■ c 



■ 



- 

_ 



v O ^ 



- 



■ 

; 



- 



3f 




Florida., U*m 7-7H 5S ^ 7,<r ^] J^/ 
M " ' ~ - x • ^ 

FLORIDA: 

ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS, 



A SKETCH OF ITS HI ST OB Y, 

NATURAL FEATURES AND SOCIAL CONDITION; 

A MANUAL OF RELIABLE INFORMATION 

CONCERNING THB 

RESOURCES OF THE STATE AND THE INDUCEMENTS 
TO SETTLERS. 



PREPARED AND ISSUED BY THE FLORIDA IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. 



PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA IMPROVEMENT CO., 
Office, 62 Broadway. 



1869. 



T*£. flet Uh* 

April 1014, 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by 

THE FLORIDA IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of 

New York. 



C. S. Westcott & Co., Printers, 
79 John Street, New York. 



/ 



THE FLORIDA IMPROVEMENT CO. 



CAPITAL, ----- $2,500,000. 

SHARES, SlOO EACH. 

fntorporaitb f atg, IMS, wow % fafas of % State of geto fork 



HOMES FOR ALL WITHIN THE REACH OF ALL 



This Company, undeb the auspices of the State of 
Flobida, propose to furnish lands of uniform good quality, 
and upon which can be raised Vegetables, Fruits, etc., 
common to the more Northern climates, and all the 
Grains, Fruits, and Yegetables of the Tropics. 

Such selected lands, in the healthiest part of the 
State, and of the best quality, will be sold at (from Thbee 
Dollabs to) Ten Dollabs per acre, the payments to be made 
on the following unexampled easy tebms : One quarter cash, 
and the remaining three quarters in five to ten annual pay- 
ments, with interest at six per cent., payable yearly — the 
purchaser to have the option of anticipating his payments. 

The policy of the General and State Governments 
favors the settlement and occupation of the public lands, 



4 



that all may become Freeholders — and in that, we 
have an assurance of the most stable population and 
law-abiding citizens; hence the origin of the Homestead 
Laws. The great West has found its immense growth 
and prosperity in this policy. 

The Southern States are now fairly dividing emigra- 
tion and settlement, more largely to be increased 

AS THE ADVANTAGES OF CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS BE- 
COME better known and appreciated. Even now more 
capital is going South to build railroads, and larger 
amounts for investment in lands and manufactories, than 
West. 

Florida, the land of flowers, the Italy and the oldest 
settled o* the United States, is in a far more prime- 
val state as regards population, working and consequent 
richness of the soil, than any State of the Union. 
With an area nearly equal to the Empire State, with a 
far more extended coast-line, and many and larger rivers, 
which are navigable to so great an extent that almost any 

PART OF THE STATE MAY BE REACHED BY VESSELS DIRECT, 
IT AFFORDS AMPLE FACILITIES for the SHIPMENT of its 
VARIED PRODUCTS to ALL THE PORTS AND MARKETS of the 

world. 

Unequalled for the salubrity of its climate and health 
the entire year, the settler has not the hardships to 
undergo that have been the lot of the pioneers who 
opened up and developed our harsh Northern latitudes. 
The entire year is a perpetual season of growth, vege- 
tation, and advance, able to produce and send to market 
all the productions of the tropical and temperate zones 
weeks and months in advance of any other locality, and 

AT A SEASON WHEN ALL SUCH PRODUCTIONS ARE LUXURIES, AND 

command the very highest prices ; and from its proximity 



5 



(only three days) to the great markets of Baltimore, 
Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Portland, Flo- 
rida becomes, in fact, the garden from which all the 
Northern markets must find their supplies. 

Who does not realize the years spent by the settlers 
on our Northern lands, who have made them to blossom 
like a garden, and who stops to consider that in each case 
a lifetime has been required to pay for any one of our 
farms, which would be paid for in five years in Florida, 
consequent on the cheapness of land, fuel, clothing, and living 
generally, and the length of the growing season ? The South 
is advancing most rapidly in its material improvements, 
wealth and luxuries, all which will be the resultant 
overflow of the advances and improvements in all 
the territories about her, and by which she is 
surrounded. This age is a moving age ; immense 
improvements and enterprises are now undertaken which 
were deemed visionary less than one quarter . of a 
century back. The remarkable, wonderful emigration 
by which the entire world is being made tribu- 
tary to the growth and advancement of our land, where 
effort, science, skill, intelligence, ambition, individual and 
corporate effort, have so full play, leaves no reason for 
doubt but Florida will in each decade rival the growth 
and developments of each quarter of a century at the 
North, and the State be filled with an energetic and 
industrious population. Provision will be made to fur- 
nish every actual settler with a ready-made, cheap, and 
comfortable house on his arrival, and for cheap and 
comfortable passage by steamers, and to supply him with 
tools, seed, plants, etc. The Association will take charge 
of the properties, see that, taxes are paid, fences built, 
hedges set out, and other improvements, to a moderate 



6 



extent, made in advance of the intended removal to 
the sunny land. As old age and winter creep on, it 
obliges all to cast a lingering look of desire to the land 
of perpetual spring. 

The public press, so efficient in educating and direct- 
ing the public mind, has done its full share in develop- 
ing the latent desire of the commonalty to become 
owners and possessors of a homestead, and " The Florida 
Improvement Company" assert, that in their plan of fur- 
nishing lands to settlers in the State of Florida of uniform 
good quality, equal to any in the State, at low prices and 

LONG PAYMENTS, THEY ARE PROMOTING A SYSTEM OF LlFE INSUR- 
ANCE WHICH LN ITS ACTUAL PRACTICAL BENEFITS TO THE INDI- 
VIDUAL AND THE COMMONALTY FAR SURPASSES, IN ITS PRESENT 
AND PROSPECTIVE BENEFITS, THE COMMON FORM OF LlFE ASSUR- 
ANCE, WHICH UTILIZES ITSELF TO THE PARTY MOST INTERESTED 
ONLY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ENJOYMENT HAS CEASED. 

The best of land, the lowest price, the easiest payments, 
the greatest facilities of communication, the best 
markets, are among the advantages to which attention 
and careful investigation are invited. Many will be sur- 
prised at the assertion, that there are no cheap first- 
class LANDS LEFT, NORTH OF MASON AND DrXON's LINE, and 
EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI ] AND THAT ALL SUCH LANDS HAVE 
BEEN TAKEN UP, AND RANGE IN PRICE FROM TWENTY DOLLARS 
AN ACRE UPWARDS, AND THE SETTLER DESIRING CHEAP IANDS 

must go South. Hie entire continent looks to the Atlantic 
seaboard and Europe for a market, and the West is 
dependent on Eaihvays, with high rates of freight and 
rapid transit, or the Canals (for only six months of 
the year) with low rates and slow (one and one-half 
miles an hour) transportation, while Florida furnishes 
lands of unexcelled richness, unequalled variety of 



7 



production, delightful climate the entire year, and 
the entire range of markets on the atlantic coast 
and Europe, with steam transportation by water and 

RAIL. 

The State of Florida, in advance of all the South- 
ern States, has entered upon a new career of improve- 
ment ; and, to promote that end, invites to her borders 
the industry, energy, and enterprise of the North, and 
in return proffers rich and cheap virgin lands, capable of 
a variety of productions, which cannot he equalled by any 
other State in the Union, and a climate which has ever 
been celebrated for health, and a great resort for invalids. 

The Association will set out orange and lemon trees at 
one dollar and fifty cents each. We extract the following 
from the Massachusetts Ploughman : " The whole of the 
peninsula of Florida produces Oranges of the best qual- 
ity, and from the latitude of New Smyrna, southward, a 
large variety of other fruits nourish, such as Lemons, 
Limes, Pineapples, Guava, Dates, Bananas, Plantains, 
Cocoanuts, Plums, Peaches, Pears, Grapes, and all kinds 
of berries. Before coming to Florida, I never saw a fruit 
worthy to be called an orange. In size, juiciness, sweet- 
ness, richness, in every proper characteristic of the orange, 
they are inexpressibly superior to the lifeless, insipid, 
unsatisfactory fruit sold under that name in the North- 
ern markets." 

" I have spoken only of Oranges, but Lemons do 
as well, and are fully as marketable, to say nothing 
of the Pineapple, of which an acre ivill bear three or 
four thousand. It is an old saying here, that he who 
has once drank of the waters of Florida will never leave 
her. I can testify that there is a powerful fascination 
in her unparalleled salubrity of climate, her moons such 



8 



as never shone elsewhere, and even in the very fervor 
of her summer sun." 

Of Peaches : " We have a dozen fine sorts which would 
be bearing from June 1st to July 1st, as many more 
through July, August, and September, and half a dozen 
that bear in October, and two excellent varieties which 
ripen in November — thus we have six months during 
which we can be shipping Peaches North ; thus we have 
a longer Peach season than any other State except Texas. The 
same steamers would bear Tomatoes, early Potatoes, Pease, 
Squashes, and Grapes to the Northern markets." Space 
will not permit further evidence. We give an abstract of the 
productions of the State, premising that in no State of the 
Union can so extensive a variety be successfully culti- 
vated : Cotton — both Sea Island and Short Staple — 
Indian Corn, Sugar, Irish Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Kice, 
Tobacco, Indigo, Sisal Hemp, Castor Bean, Mulberry 
(native of the forests), Pease, Peanuts, Arrowroot, Eye 
and Oats, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Beans, Cab- 
bages, Turnips, Cauliflower, Egg Plant, Lettuce, Bad- 
ishes, Celery, etc., etc., etc. Fruits: Oranges, Lemons, 
Limes, Citrons, Peaches, Pears, Grapes, Pigs, Pomegran- 
ates, Apples and Quinces, Plums, Cherries, Olive, Ban- 
nana, Pineapple, and Berries. Stock Raising: " Some of the 
heavy cattle men own as many as twenty-five thousand 
head of cattle. They cost nothing to keep, summer or win- 
ter, the natural pasture affording them an abundance of 
fodder, and fattening them to a weight and condition equal, 
if not superior, to the finest to be found in this or any 
Western State." Timber and Lumber : Florida, beyond ques- 
tion is the Best Timbered State in the Union. The Pine forests 
furnish employment to a large number engaged in the pro- 
duction of Lumber and Naval Stores. Game and Fish in 



9 



abundance. As is true of all other newly settled regions, 
the customs and fashions do not require as expensive A 
style of dwelling-houses or places of business ; and in con- 
sequence of this, and the mildness of the climate, the strong, 
tight, and expensive houses of the North are not needed, 
and would he out of character ; no one would think, in fact, 
of expending more than $500 to $1,200 for a dwelling in 
Florida. 

" The summer in Florida may be said to be seven 
months long. The weather, however, is of a pleasant tem- 
perature, the nights uniformly cool, and sultry days of 
rare occurrence ; indeed, so agreeable are the summers, 

THERE IS LITTLE CHOICE BETWEEN THEM AND THE WINTERS, 

and many of the oldest inhabitants say they prefer the 
former. The winter in Florida resembles very much that 
season in the middle States which is termed ' Indian 
Summer ' — except that in Florida the sky is perfectly 
clear, and the atmosphere more elastic. As re- 
spects health, Florida stands pre-eminent. The average 
mortality of the whole peninsula is found to be 2.06 per 
cent., while the other portions of the United States was 
3.05 per cent." (See Surgeon-General Lawson's Report.) 
The tide of emigration, with attendant Railroads, Steamers, 
Telegraphs, ivith the entire range of modern improve- 
ments and luxuries which have traversed the continent, is 
now being diverted and directed to the South, and ivith its 
virgin soil, genial climate, and with the product of the pres- 
ent cotton crop, the South tvill spring forward in a com- 
petitive race of progress and improvement which shall 
eclipse the wonders which have been ivrought on the prai- 
ries of the far West. 

This Company, with their corps of able, intelligent, 
and experienced Engineers and Surveyors, propose to fur- 



10 



nish the best lands that can be selected in the State, 
with undoubted titles ; and, from their facilities, are able to 
do far better by the purchaser than they could do for them- 
selves, and will at the same time take charge of such proper- 
ties as may be purclmsed of them, and direct the expenditure 
of moneys for improvements and the payment of taxes, for a 
small commission and interest on advances; the object being 
to transact business for their friends who may be pre- 
vented from going there immediately to give their per- 
sonal supervision to lands and improvements, so as to 
benefit their interests and promote the welfare of the 
State. There is no person who cannot secure a home of 
forty acres of land by the payment of $100, and an annual 
payment during five years of $60, or in ten years of $30, in- 
cluding interest, less by far than the premium on a Life Insur- 
ance policy of a respectable amount , and at the same time know 
it is yearly increasing in value, and by the time the last 
payment is made (less than five years), be assured that what 
had cost only $400 was sure to bring $4,000, or $100 an 
acre. To those who desire to place themselves in luxu- 
riant comfort with a small outlay — to all who desire to 
secure homes emblazoned with every comfort, and at the 
least possible expense — we commend these extracts and 
statements, and ask an impartial investigation. Of the 
profits attending the early shipment of all kinds of 
fresh vegetables to New York and other Northern mar- 
kets, it is not necessary to advise Northern men ; but the 
statement is made that large profits are to be realized from 
the very first crops and the very first year, and during 
all the intermediate years before the maturity of the 
other standard crops. 

The Company will sell its lands in parcels of forty 
(40) acres each, or in multiples of that quantity. The 



11 



price of the lands being placed at so low a figure, a farm 
of 160 acres is within the reach of most, and at less cost 
than that of a single field in any of the North-Eastern 
or Middle States, or the old settled countries of Europe. 

We will suppose a settler selects a plot of 160 acres, or 
four | sections of 40 acres each, of the highest in price 
and best lands belonging to the Company. 

160 acres of land, at $10 per acre $1,600 

Payment, £ in cash 400 

$1,200 

First Payment $240 

Interest at 6 per cent $72 00 

Second Payment 240 

Interest 57 60 

Third Payment 240 

Interest 43 20 

Fourth Payment 240 

Interest 28 80 

Fifth Payment 240 

Interest 14 40 

■ $1,200 

Interest on deferred payments $216 00 

At the expiration of which time the settler owns in fee- 
simple a farm of 160 acres of the best and richest land 
in the State, far excelling the exhausted and worn out 
lands of other and older settled countries. Or, suppose an 
emigrant purchases 160 acres of the less choice but still 
good lands of the Company, in most cases requiring only 
the personal labor of the immigrant to render them equal 
to the best, say — 

160 acres at $5 per acre $800 

Payment in cash 200 



(over) $600 



12 



1st. — First Payment $60 

Interest at 6 per cent $36 00 

2nd. — Second Payment 60 

Interest 32 40 

3rd— Third Payment 60 

Interest 28 80 

4th. — Fourth Payment 60 

Interest 25 20 

5th.— Fifth Payment 60 

Interest 21 60 

6th. — Sixth Payment 60 

Interest 18 00 

1th. — Seventh Payment 60 

Interest 14 40 

8th. — Eight Payment 60 

Interest 10 80 

9th. — Ninth Payment 60 

Interest 7 20 

10th.— Tenth Payment 60 

Interest 3 60 



$600 

Or a purchaser, if straitened for means, may purchase 
forty acres of the best lands of the Company, ready for 
immediate improvment, which will cost but — 

40 acres at $10 per acre $400 

Cash payment 100 

Deferred payment in 10 annual instalments $300 

and an annual payment for ten years of but $30 a year. 

Who is there with stout hands and a willing heart that 
is unable to make a home for himself and his family in 
such an easy and at the same time sound and honest 
manner ? 

After the first or second year the profits of the 
purchase will not only pay for itself, but enable its 
fortunate possessor to add tract to tract, until the first 



13 



nestling place has become the centre of a spacious 
domain for all time for himself and his children after 
him. 

The soil of Florida, being free from stones, is, except 
in the case of heavily timbered lands, easily brought 
into cultivation ; a settler requires an outlay of but a 
trifling amount, compared to that required by an emi- 
grant to any of the Western States, to provide himself 
with a house, farming tools and other necessaries, all 
which are provided and can be obtained from the 
Company's local agents at the lowest actual cost. 

Arrangements have been made with the principal 
lines of steamships sailing from the following ports, by 
which all passengers intending to locate in Florida, or 
purchasers of lands from the authorized agents of this 
Company, will be furnished with passage and rations 
through to the place of their destination, at a large 
discount from their usual rates : — 
From Liverpool, 
" Glasgow, 
" Queenstown, 
" Bremen, 
" Hamburg, 

" Ports of France and Italy; 
and the Company will afford facilities and protection to 
such parties at their several points of embarkation, until 
the settler is fairly located upon his homestead in 
Florida, thus saving him much cost and no less danger 
consequent upon travelling in strange lands alone and 
unprotected. 

This Company will also undertake the safe convey- 
ance from any of the above ports, through their au- 
thorized agents, of females and minor children belonging 



14 



to the family of any of the settlers of the Company, 
and undertake, by a special agent of the Company trav- 
elling with them in parties, to provide for their safety 
and comfort, and conduct them safely to their relatives 
in Florida. 

In presenting this enterprise to the public, the Florida 
Improvement Co. does not intend to hold out the idea 
that success in agriculture, or in any other department or 
pursuit, is to be attained in Florida, or elsewhere, without 
labor and effort. 

But it desires to publish to the world that Florida, 
though it is the oldest settled of the United States, is 
a new and mostly undeveloped country, and that by its pe- 
culiar and truly extraordinary advantages of soil, posi- 
tion, and climate, it presents opportunities where, by a 
less expenditure of effort, and the exercise of a fair degree of 
intelligent labor and judgment, larger and quicker returns 
can be realized than in any other part of the Union. 

To introduce this pleasant land to the knowledge of 
those dwelling in the chill and unpropitious climates of the 
North, where the profit of the summer is consumed in the 
bleak and cheerless winter, is one object of this Company. 

Emigrants intending to settle can obtain full informa- 
tion as to the country, of which maps in detail can be 
seen at any of their offices. 

Information as to routes and the cost of passage will 
be furnished on application to any of the Company's of- 
fices, or by letter covering postage for reply when by mail. 

Passage tickets may be procured at reduced rates to any 
point in Florida from any part of the United States, Canada, 
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's Island, Great BriUin, ports 
of the North German Union, France and Italy, from the 
authorized agents of the Florida Improvement Company. 



15 



FACILITY OF COMMUNICATION. 

" Florida, from her peculiar geographical position, has ad- 
vantages for quick and easy communication with all parts 
of the Commercial World. Having an average breadth of 
about one hundred miles in the peninsular part oi the State, 
she extends some four hundred miles from north to south 
and thus has a coast line of some 1,100 miles, with a large 
number of harbors, bays, and estuaries, the easy and cer- 
tain exit from and to which largely increases her fa- 
cilities for communication. She is thrust directly across 
one of the great highways of traffic by her extension 
southward, between the Gulf of Mexico and the Carib- 
bean Sea. She is within one and one-half days of 
New Orleans, within three days of New York, and 
within one day of Savannah and Cuba. Few portions 
of the United States are so well supplied with the 
means of internal navigation. The St. John's, Suwanee, 
Withlacoochee, Ocklawaha, Indian and Appalachicola are 
all large rivers, navigable for more than one hundred miles 
for steamboats, and the St. John's more than two hundred. 
In addition are many others navigable for smaller steam- 
boats; indeed, so many, that but a small portion of the 
State is remote from water communication. There are 
railroads connecting Fernandina, Cedar Keys, Jackson- 
ville, Quincy, Tallahassee, and St. Mark's, and several others 
in contemplation." 



THE 



Florida Improvement Co. 




INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF NEW YORK. 
1 8 e ©. 

Office-62 BROADWAY (Room 15). P. 0. Box 2,855. 



CAPITAL STOCK, - - - $2,500,000. 



SHARES, $100 EACH. 

CHARLES W. GODARD. 

Witt-^xtzibmt : 
JOHN J. MERRITT. 



GREGORY SATTERLEE. 

Hecrdarg : 
N. MICKLES. 




treasurer : 



CHARLES W. GODARD, 
D. D. T. MOORE, 
ED. REIMANN, 
W. A. SHEPARD, 
GREGORY SATTERLEE, 



JOHN J. MERRITT, 
N. MICKLES, 
JAMES W. FOWLER, 
J. A. FOSTER, 
EDWIN A. STUDWELL, 



CHARLES W. WHITE. 



Application may be made at the Office of the Company for informa- 
tion, and foe, low rates of passage, by persons ivho intend 
to become actual residents of Florida. 



17 



Tallahassee, Florida, October 28, 1889. 
An arrangement having been effected between the 
Trustees of The Internal Improvement Fund of the 
State of Florida and The Florida Improvement Com- 
pany, by which a large concession of State lands is 
made to the Company, and a corresponding obligation 
entered into by the Company to introduce actual 
settlers into the State from other of the United States 
and other nations, we take pleasure in commending 
the Company and their enterprise to the hearty co- 
operation of all our citizens, and to all wishing com- 
fortable homes under the most genial climate in the 
world, upon lands having a wonderful scope and power 
of vegetable production, and well adapted to the 
growth of nearly all the crops of the temperate zones, 
together with a great variety of tropical and semi- 
tropical fruits. By the arrangement made, the inter- 
ests of the Company and those of the State are made 
so thoroughly identical that we have little hesitation 
in pledging the cordial support of the Government and 
the general co-operation of our citizens in giving suc- 
cess to the enterprise. 

Harrison Reed, 
Governor. 

Frank W. Webster, 

Surveyor General. 
Geo. B. Carse, 

Adjutant General. 
C. Thurston Chase, 

Supt. Public Instruction. 
Jonathan C. Gibbs, 

Secretary of State. 
J. S. Adams, 

Commissioner of Emigration. 

2 



| Seal. I 



18 



We subjoin the following extracts : 

WHAT CAN BE DONE? 

[Palatka Herald, Oct, 1869.] 

As an inducement to immigration to our immediate section 
of country, we make the following statement, vouching for 
its truth : — A gentleman, poor in purse but industrious, 
emigrated from Washington city, in February, 1867, entered 
a homestead, budded, in the month of June following, a num- 
ber of orange trees, and has thus early in the season shipped 
upwards of three thousand oranges, and has several thousand 
which will be ready for shipment^ in the course of a few 
days. This is separate and distinct from the additional fact 
that the gentleman here referred to has been offered and re- 
fused the sum of $12,000 for the improvements made upon 
his place. 

OVEE THE EIYEE. 

[Palatka Eistem Herald, Novembers, 1869.] 

Who that visits Palatka does not look with wistful eye and 
longing desire to Orange Grove Point, on the opposite shore ? 
For the first time we availed ourselves of the courtesy of our 
friend Mr. S. B. Davis, who furnished us with the outfit of a 
trim boat and two good rowers. So away we went (wife and I) 
gliding over the water to this enchanted point. Here we 
entered a grove of 500 bearing trees all loaded with fruit, 
reminding us of some fairy scene of the " Arabian Nights." 
One tree was pointed out to us bearing not less than 3,000 
oranges. The crop in this grove is above the average, and 
will net not less than fifty dollars to the tree, so you can 
make your own calculation and see how much may be real- 
ized from an area of five acres on the St, John's river. This 
grove bears evidence of skilful management, and we think 
much credit is due Mr. Davis for his industry and manage- 
ment in bringing to maturity one of the best crops on the 
river. We need hardly add that we came away not only 
delighted, hub freighted with the most delicious fruit. 



19 



The State of Louisiana has a Board of Commissioners of 
Emigration. Her Board has issued a bulletin. Among 
others, her leading cane-growers were asked to set forth the 
profits of her Sugar industry, which some of them have done, 
as follows : 

Mount Hope, Parish of St. Landry, Jan. 1, 1869. 

I employed the past year 22 hands, to wit : 15 men, 3 boys, 
and 4 women. Had in cane 90 acres ; in corn 170 acres ; and 
in cotton 100 acres, besides several acres in potatoes and 
gardens. 

RESULT OF THE YEAR'S WORK. 



Ground 58 acres of cane, in 18 days, making 108 
hogsheads of 1,250 pounds each, which sold at 10 
cents $13,000 

I made 200 bbls. molasses, equal to 8,000 gallons, at 

70 cents 5,600 

Also 7,000 bbls. of corn 2,100 

Also 86 bales of cotton, equal to 38,000 pounds at 22 

cents , 8,514 



Gross receipts $29,214 



EXPENSES. 

My total expenses for provisions, repairs, hire of hands, 
sugar-maker, hogsheads and barrels, were $10,000, which, de- 
ducted from gross income, leaves $19,714 as my year's income. 

I am, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

Elbert Gantt. 

P.S. — I employed seven extra hands for 90 days. 

Bayou Bostjf, St. Landry Parish, Jan. 1, 1869. 

I herewith transmit, in accordance with your request, a state- 
ment of the sugar crops produced during the year 1868, on the 
Barbreck and St. Peter's plantation 

Sugar produced, 460 hhds., averaging 1,250 pounds 



each, which, at $100 per hhd., yields $46,000 

27,600 gallons molasses, at 50 cents per gallon 13,800 

Gross proceeds $49,800 

Expenses 19,000 

Profits $30,800 



20 



Besides the above, we produced 15,000 bushels of corn, which 
is at least 3,000 or 4,000 more than we require for the use of the 
plantations. Very respectfully, &c, 

H. M. Payne. 

Labyche Plantation, Parish of St. Landry, Jan. 5, 1869. 

The following is a correct statement of the crop asked for : 
92 acres of plant cane and 82 acres of corn, cultivated by 12 

men, produced 193 hhds. of sugar, 341 bbls. of molasses, and 

1,600 bushels of corn. We ground 72 acres of cane, and sold 

three acres for $1,000. 

The 72 acres produced 193 hhds. of sugar weighing 218,090 

lbs.; 311 bbls. molasses, 14,322 gallons ; averaging per acre, 

3,029 lbs. of sugar, and 200 gallons of molasses. 

Net proceeds from the above, including the three acres 

of cane $32,221 18 



EXPENSES. 

For cultivating the crop $1,225 00 

For taking off the same 1,551 31 

For pork in lieu of wages 662 00 

Sugar hogsheads, molasses barrels, re- 
pairs to sugar-house, and other small 

expenses 3,500 00 

$6,938 31 

Net proceeds $25,282 87 

We consumed in making the sugar 660 cords of gumwood; in 
taking off the crop, we hired 30 extra hands ; their wages are 
included in the $1,551 31. 

Number of days cutting cane 42 

Number of days grinding 21 

Total capital invested $40,000 



Your obedient servant, 

Geo. W. Morgan. 

Mr. Grafenberg, near New Iberia, worked 42 hands at a 
cost of $300 each for wages and provisions. He produced 
465 hhds. sugar and 816 bbls. molasses, which brought at a 
low price $78,137 75. Ninety hhds. of sugar were taken 
from 28 acres of land. The gross product of the plantation 
was about $260 per acre. His net profit was over $50,000. 

A planter in the parish of Terrebonne selected 30 acres of 



21 



cane, which yielded him three hogsheads of sugar and six 
barrels of molasses per acre. The sugar was of superior 
quality, and brought 15 cents per pound ; the molasses 
brought 92 cents per gallon. 

THE FTJTUBE OF THE SOUTH. 

THE ANTICIPATED COTTON CROP — INCREASED VALUE OF LANDS. 

[From the Charleston (S. C. ) News, Aug. 21.] 

The South has a more brilliant prospect before her than 
any other section of these United States, and the fact is now 
beginning to be seen and acknowledged. The prosperity of 
a country, as a rule, may be measured by the proportion of 
its products to its population, and it may therefore be un- 
hesitatingly asserted that during 1869 the twelve cotton States 
of this country will show more true prosperity than any 
other section of the world ! 

We have every reason to anticipate a crop of about 
3,000,000 bales cotton, which, valued at $108 per bale (say 
455 lbs. at 25 cents.), will give $324,000,000 ; also a corn crop 
of 285,000,000 bushels, valued at $230,000,000 ; and the sugar, 
wheat, tobacco, .and other crops, will yield $150,000,000 
more, giving in all a product of not less than $704,000,000, 
wliich, with a population of not over 11,000,000, will show 
an average of $64 per head, which largely exceeds that of the 
Northern and Western States. This State of South Carolina 
will this year yield products worth $50,000,000, which, 
with her population of not over 670,000, will show an aver- 
age of $74.62 per head. This average, as before said, is the 
correct gauge by which to ascertain a country's prosperity. 
The value of real estate is no true test of a nation's prosper- 
ity, as it may be influenced by a variety of causes unconnected 
with solid progress. An inflated currency will give real 
estate a high but a fictitious market value ; and this, instead 
of being an evidence of national prosperity, is an evidence 
of national weakness, as was shown at the North about the 
close of the late war. 



22 



The lands of the South offer as fine inducements for invest- 
ments as those of the West, and they will most assuredly soon 
increase greatly in value. In any portion of the South fine 
lands under cultivation can be bought at from $5 to $9 per 
acre, which in a few years will be worth five times the pur- 
chase-money. Labor will soon become plentiful. The 
climate is exceedingly salubrious, and offers no hindrance what- 
ever to the manual labor of the white man, as is proved by the 
fact that there are now no less than 200,000 whites cultivating 
cotton with their own hands. 



PEOSPECTS OF THE SOUTH. 

A SURVEY FROM THE NEW ORLEANS STAND-POINT. 

The New Orleans Picayune, of recent date, has the fol- 
lowing : 

" The cotton production is increasing fast since the end of 
hostilities. The excess this year over last will be about 
500,000 bales. This crop is worth more to the South than 
in 1860-1861, for it is nearly all surplus. We raise as much 
food as is necessary for consumption, which was not the case 
in previous years. Cotton was then sold to purchase sup- 
plies. Raising now what we want, our cotton becomes a 
surplus, and brings us its whole value in cash. Louisiana has 
made nearly 500,000 hogsheads of sugar. The war, loss of 
labor, and the demoralization of the negro, reduced this prod- 
uct almost to nothing. It is on the increase and it will not 
be long before we can boast of 500,000 hogsheads. The 
troubles in Cuba will for years keep up the price of sugar ; 
for, whatever may be the fate of Cuba, whether a dependency 
of Spain, or free, or annexed to the United States, the pro- 
duction of this article will be greatly diminished. The slaves 
will be freed, and as this class on that island is far inferior 
to the African here, it is evident that they will be less trac- 
table and less inclined to labor. The falling off of the main 
staple productions will be as great as in Jamaica and other 



23 



islands where the emancipation experiment has been made. 
As all these facts are apparent, an extraordinary effort will 
be made to increase the cultivation of the cane in this State. 
Sugar lands have advanced in price, and are largely sought 
for. As soon as skilled laborers in abundance can be pro- 
cured, the production of sugar can be made to reach a million 
of hogsheads. As the molasses pay the whole cost of culti- 
vation, the profits must be enormous. 

"Another important article is coming bach to us, and that 
is tobacco. TJie main mart for the world will be here. The 
large advance in real estate is only accounted for by the ex- 
pectation of a very large increase of business. We are short 
in cash, and money is not sufficiently abundant to control 
the trade which naturally should come to us. The very 
large dividends declared by our banks, without issue, prove 
this conclusively. The laws of trade are imperative, and 
one is, that whenever there is a deficiency in any one article 
in any place, a suply will be forthcoming. This law will 
bring capital, for when bank capital shows a profit of fifteen 
per cent, it will flow to us from other places where the divi- 
dends are much less. So that on the score of capital we may 
conclude that it will increase with us in the ratio of the in- 
crease of productions and commerce." 



SOUTHERN TRADE IN NEW YORK. 

THE SOUTH THE SALVATION OE NEW YORK TRADE — SOUTHERN 
TRADE DOUBLED SINCE LAST YEAR — EXTRAORDINARY RECU- 
PERATION — THE SOUTH THE MAIN-STAY OF MERCANTILE 
PROSPERITY, ETC., ETC. 

The New York Daily Tribune, of the 11th instant, prefaces 
an extended review of the condition of trade in New York 
and the state of the markets, with the following, to which we 
desire to call the attention of the reader : 

" The key-note of the present commercial situation in the 
great metropolis is exactly struck by the significant remark 
of a leading wholesale jeweller in Maiden lane : ' The 



24 



Southern trade has been the salvation of New York this 
fall ; and certainly the extraordinary increase of Southern 
business in New York markets has given the fall trade of 
1869 a volume, and a soundness, unparalleled since the war. 
Some observers have ventured to speak of the trade with the 
South as trebled since 1868, but this is unquestionably an 
exaggeration, although in many branches, and especially in 
boots and shoes, groceries, jewelry clothing, and dry goods, 
moderate estimates place the advance at from 25 to 75 per 
cent., with a prospect, in numerous instances, of a continued 
heavy late trade, which will probably bring the aggregate 
Southern business of the season up to twice the amount of 
last year.' 

" This indicates a most prosperous and encouraging state of 
affairs in the region lately devastated by the rude hand of 
war, and a brief review of the course of Southern trade since 
the close of the rebellion will show that New York dealers 
are justified in taking a rose-colored view of the situation. 

" In the fall of 1865 the South was so destitute of supplies 
that every one engaged in merchandising made money with 
a rapidity that enticed many inexperienced men into attempt- 
ing a mercantile life. In 1866 these ex-planters, professional 
men, Northern speculators, and other novices, bought heavy 
stocks upon small capital, and flooded the South with more 
goods than could be retailed at profitable rates. As a 
necessary consequence, many of this class of dealers were 
compelled to sell out at any price, and quit a business they 
did not understand. In 1867 their successors bought boldly 
in September and October upon the strength of the good 
cotton crop of that year, but the sudden fall of 60 or 70 per 
cent, in the price of the great staple later in the season upset 
all their calculations and entailed a second year of com- 
mercial misfortune upon the South. 

" In 1868 another good cotton crop was gathered, and of 
this the Southern people realized the profits, instead of the 
speculators who had carried off the lion's share the year be- 
fore. Disaster had taught prudence and compelled economy, 
and returning good fortune enabled the Southerners to re- 



25 



establish themselves on a sound and comfortable footing. 
And now comes the cotton crop of 1869 to swell this tide of 
prosperity, to insure plenty, and even luxury, at the South ; 
to till the coffers of the merchants of Manhattan, and to 
spread its beneficial influence throughout the civilized 
world. 

" In no country but the South, and vnth no crop> but cotton, can 
three hundred millions of wealth be created, in a twelvemonth out 
of the soil. And while this holds true, the Southern trade 
must continue the main-stay of mercantile prosperity in New 
York. 

" Not only does the cotton crop this year furnish a broad 
and satisfactory basis for Southern trade, but the business is 
almost universally in good and experienced hands , old mer- 
chants who traded here before the war, having taken advan- 
tage of the bankrupt law, accumulated sufficient capital for a 
business venture, and made their appearance in New York 
this fall in unusual numbers. Caution is also manifested 
against overstocking (a fault to which Southern dealers are 
especially prone), the increase in the volume of trade being 
due to the greater number of buyers, rather than to the pur- 
chase of heavier invoices. Few favors are asked in the way 
of credit, many dealers paying cash, and the others giving 
very satisfactory paper. 

" In cell respects the Southern trade this fall is excellent, but the 
same cannot be said of trade with the West. In New England 
trade no change is observed, and in New York and Pennsyl- 
vania a visible improvement is noted in some instances ; but 
in the West a degree of embarrassment 'prevails which delays 
business, hinders collections, and makes cautious merchants 
chary of selling largely except for cash. Eecent letters from 
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, corroborate this state- 
ment, and attribute the evil mainly to the action of the farm- 
ers in holding back last year's produce for a rise. Money is 
in extreme demand for moving the crops, and business, which 
has, moreover, been decidedly overdone in many localities, 
feels the pressure keenly. The contrast between the shrewd, 
but sometimes over-reaching "Westerner, and the liberal, but 



26 



perhaps prodigal Southron, is clearly seen and felt in this 
state of affairs. The latter puts his crop in the market before 
it is gathered, and begins distributing its proceeds before the 
first bale is packed. The former holds the produce of his 
land with a firm clutch, and would rather embarrass himself 
and his neighbors than run the risk of losing a possible 
profit. Either course may result in disaster to the agricul- 
turist ; but the Southern style oils the wheels, while the Western 
plan claps doivn the brake of trade ; and now that the South, of 
old the favorite market of New York, has commenced anew a 
prosperous career, it needs no wizard to reveal the commercial 
quarter for which shrewd merchants will hereafter steer their 
course and trim their sails" 



FLORIDA : 



Its Climate, Soil, and Productions, with a Sketch of its History, 
Natural Features, and Social Condition. 



A MANUAL OF RELIABLE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE 
RESOURCES OF THE STATE AND THE INDUCEMENTS TO IM- 
MIGRANTS; PREPARED OFFICIALLY BY HON. J. S. ADAMS, 
COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION FOR THE STATE OF 
FLORIDA. 



Published "by tlie Florida Improvement Company. 



EXPLANATORY. 

Office of the Commissioner of Emigration, 
Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 25, 1869. 
His Excellency Gov. Reed : 

Sik, — In your letter to me of November 10, 1868, you 
requested me " to prepare a proper pamphlet for the State, 
for distribution, giving full information on all subjects of 
interest to persons seeking or desiring a new home. You 
may make it 30, 50, 100, or more pages, as you find necessary, 
to make it a complete work." 

Upon consultation with your Excellency, it w r as determined 
that a general description of the whole State, with an account 
of its general character and resources, similar to that given in 
a pamphlet already published by Dewey & Co., with a more 
particular account of each different section, would constitute 
a desirable book. Accordingly I immediately issued the fol- 
lowing circular, and addressed it to individuals in almost 
every county in the State. 



28 



" Jacksonville, Fla, November 16, 1868. 

" Dear Sir, — -Commissioned by the State to prepare a pam- 
phlet which shall fairly and fully, but in the strictest truth, 
set forth the manifold inducements which our State of Flor- 
ida offers to all who seek a home in our genial South, it is 
desirable that, in addition to such general information as may 
be presented, there should be included as full, and perfect, 
and reliable information, geographical and statistical, finan- 
cial and general, as is possible, in regard to the different sec- 
tions and counties of the State. 

" In order to do this, I have desired to put myself in imme- 
diate and close communication with men of known intelli- 
gence in reference to their own and other sections of the State, 
who have a patriotic interest in promoting the prosperity of 
our State, and who are willing to co-operate in facilitating 
the introduction of men and means, which will develop the 
true strength and power of Florida.. 

" The object is to prepare a document that will assist the 
State Bureau of Immigration in the effective and intelligent 
discharge of its duty, by giving reliable knowledge of local 
characteristics. 

" A little united effort and a settled government will bring 
thousands of good men and millions of capital in a short 
space of time within our borders, and such a result will very 
shortly double the material strength of our State. 

" We want facts as to the surface, soil, climate, productions, 
prices of lands, kinds of timber, price of lumber, wages of 
labor, means of producing labor, access, to market, cost of 
clearing, cost of building, character and quantity of water, 
health, and in short the materials to answer the many ques- 
tions that each of us would ask in reference to any section to 
which we proposed ourselves to migrate. 

" The work, to be effective, must be done very soon, and the 
desire is to have the book completed as rapidly as possible, 
and therefore immediate replies to this communication are 
solicited. 

" I am induced by your well-known interest in the work in 
hand, as well as your intimate knowledge of your own vicinity, 



29 



to address you, and earnestly request you to respond by a 
careful article on the topics suggested so far as your own 
locality is concerned, and to do it as soon as you possibly 
can, giving truthfully all the inducements which your section 
offers to settlers. State particularly the amounts of the sta- 
ples : Corn, Cotton, Sweet Potatoes, Sugar, Tobacco, Grapes, 
raised to the acre. State also the disposition of your people 
towards new comers. 

" Eelying upon your intelligent appreciation of the impor- 
tance of the work to be done, and your patriotic willingness 
to assist in accomplishing what, if well done, must be done 
by us altogether, 

" I am, respectfully yours, 

"J.S.Adams." 

I then proceeded to prepare the general description of the 
whole State, and the same was finished in the month of De- 
cember. 

An earnest effort was made to secure local returns from 
each county and section of the whole State, and thus make 
the book a perfectly impartial exposition of the actual induce- 
ments of each particular section. 

Accordingly the publication has been delayed from week 
to week and from month to month, in anxious expectation of 
full returns, particularly from "West and South and Central 
Florida, and in the meantime the constant call for informa- 
tion has been partially satisfied by the distribution from this 
Department of the " Manual of Florida,' and of such other 
pamphlets as were attainable. 

In the meanwhile, having received the appointment of Com- 
missioner of Immigration, I am so pressed by other official 
duties that the conclusion of this book can be delayed no 
longer, and other matter, selected from various sources, is 
inserted to fill the space that would have been occupied by 
the local returns, had they been received. 

Continued efforts will be made to obtain, as soon as pos- 
sible, the fullest practicable, reports from all the various 
counties, and such reports will be published in connection 



30 



with information as to the various routes of travel, and other 
matters of interest to immigrants. 

Bespectfully submitted. 

J. S. Adams, 
Commissioner of Immigration. 



INTRODUCTION. 

The genial climate, variety of productions, sparseness of 
settlements, and consequent cheapness of land in the South- 
ern States, have arrested the attention of thousands in foreign 
lands and in the Northern States of our own country ; and 
the immense tide of immigration, which for the last quarter 
of a century has flowed so steadily and powerfully towards 
the " Great West," is destined in the future to change its 
direction, and flow as rapidly and steadily towards the 
Southern States, if the proper means are used to spread 
abroad accurate knowledge of the actual inducements that 
are offered to settlers. 

In order to draw to themselves as large a portion of this 
immigration as possible, most of the Western and Southern 
States have established, or are about to establish, a depart- 
men of the Government to which the special charge of this 
matter of immigration is committed. 

Florida has followed in this matter the promptings of her 
own good sense and the example of other States. 

She has intrusted the oversight and promotion of immi- 
gration to a special officer, styled the Commissioner of Immi- 
gration ; has made such officer a member of the Governor's 
cabinet, and empowered him to establish a " Bureau of 
Immigration, for the purpose of furnishing information, and 
for the encouragement of immigration." 

It is in the interest of this department that, as the Consti- 
tution directs, this book is prepared " for the furnishing 
information and for the encouragement of immigration." 

The design is, within comparatively narrow limits to give 
as complete a knowledge as is possible of the general char- 
acteristics of the State, in regard to its topography, climate, 



31 



soil, productions and condition, political and social ; and, in 
short, to answer, as fully as possible, all those manifold ques- 
tions that would naturally arise in the mind of a sensible man 
who has in mind the intention of settling in the State. And 
as confirmatory of such general statements, local informa- 
tion has been solicited from intelligent and judicious men in 
every section of the State. 

All exaggeration and fancy coloring, which are the occa- 
sional characteristics of some of the many publications of 
this nature, will be carefully avoided. No effort will be 
spared to make the statements of fact herein contained per- 
fectly reliable. The exact truth will be sought and presented. 
The most authentic sources of information will be applied to, 
and not an assertion of fact made that cannot be verified by 
evidence ; and special care will be exercised that no section or 
county of the State be noticed at the expense of others, but 
that a fair, truthful, and impartial representation of the capa- 
city and desirability of each portion be made. 

But, while circulars desiring information on local resources 
have been sent to all parts of the State, the success of the 
effort to give a showing thaj shall be impartial and fair to all 
will depend much upon the promptness and fulness of the 
returns that are received. 

Whatever may be the other faults of the book, it is hoped 
that its truthfulness and reliability may be such as to cover 
all its sins, even should they be many. 

The delay that has already occurred in the presentation of 
such information has been such, that the preparation of the 
book is inevitably hurried, and this fact will excuse such 
evidences of haste as the book will be apt to exhibit. 

Every important interest of Florida urges her to strive for 
her due share of the immense immigration that is rolling its 
vast tide towards the South, but none of these interests are 
important enough to excuse any attempt on her part to at- 
tract within her borders a single settler by wilful misstate- 
ments of fact. The truth in regard to her capacity and 
resources is one of those truths which, when fairly presented, 
are " mighty and will prevail." 



32 



GEOGBAPHY. 

Some knowledge of the geography of a country is, under 
any and all circumstances, nearly indispensable to enable one 
to obtain a thorough acquaintance with its present resources 
and possible capacity. This knowledge of the geography of 
the Southern States is particularly necessary for those who 
come to the Southern States from the North or from abroad ; 
for many well-known facts, and susceptible of abundant 
proof by the best of evidence, are almost, if not entirely, in- 
credible, because they would be simply impossible, if in the 
climate, and soil, and under the atmosphere of the North. 

Therefore, to those who wish to become fully informed in 
respect to Florida, her peculiar geography becomes, of neces- 
sity, a matter of interest. 

The geography of Florida is unique, and is of special inter- 
est, because many of the important characteristics of the 
State which seem to be contradictory, if not impossible, are 
easily explained by a consideration of its peculiar position and 
geographical character. 

The shape of Florida is somewhat like that of a boot upside 
down, the foot part extending northwardly, and the leg point- 
ing to the south. The foot part thus extends some 350 miles, 
from east to west, along the parallel of 31 deg. North Lati- 
tude and from 80 deg. to 88 deg. West Longitude from Green- 
wich ; while the part that would represent the leg, or the 
peninsula proper, extends southwardly from 31 deg. to 25 
deg. North Latitude, thus reaching over some 400 miles. 

The State contains 59,268 square miles, or 37,931,520 acres. 

The whole territory lies within the region denominated as 
"hot" by the Physical Geographers, and is in the same lati- 
tude with Northern Mexico, the Desert of Sahara, Central 
Arabia, Northern Hindostan, the Northern portion of Bur- 
mah, and the Southern portion of China ; but its comparative 
degree of heat is not accurately indicated by its latitude, for 
accurate scientific observation shows it to be isothermal with 
Southern California, Louisiana, the Bermudas, the Island of 



33 



Madeira, Barbary, Egypt, Northern Arabia, Persia, Northern 
Hindostan, Thibet, and Southern China. Moreover, the re- 
sults that might be expected from its geographical location 
are materially affected by its peninsular shape, and its ocean- 
ic surroundings. The main portion of its surface is included 
in a peninsular projection extending southwardly between the 
Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Stream, which, in its exit, tra- 
verses its Eastern coast for about 300 miles. 

The peninsula averages in width about ninety miles, and is 
fanned by the Gulf winds on one side and the Trade winds 
on the other; and thus, with so slight a breadth, every portion 
is exposed to the balmy and vivifying influences of almost 
constant oceanic winds, and from all these geographical 
peculiarities have resulted a pleasantness and salubrity of 
climate, and a power of vegetable production, so wonderful as 
to be almost incredible. 

The surface of the State is, as a whole, remarkably level, 
though this is more characteristic of the eastern and west- 
ern portion than of the central part. From the Appalachicola 
eastward to the Suwanee, and westward about the same 
distance, the surface is somewhat rolling, and an occasional 
riclge of what are called hills lends a sort of variety to the 
somewhat monotonous succession of pine, hummock, and cy- 
press lands, stretching as far as the eye can reach over an 
almost dead level. 

Perhaps the most marked of the geographical features of 
the State is to be found in the enormous extent of her coast 
line, which on the Atlantic and the Gulf exceeds eleven hun- 
dred miles, and the coast line is also remarkable for the 
great number of large bays and estuaries, which furnish fa- 
cilities for commercial intercourse that in the near future 
will hasten the development of the resources of Western and 
South-Western Florida beyond the expectations of the most 
sanguine. 

Another marked geographical feature of the State is found 
in the number of large and navigable streams. The Appala- 
chicola, the Suwannee, the St. Mary's and the St. John's 
would be noticeable rivers anywhere, and the St. John's is 



34 



one of the most surprising rivers on the globe. When it is 
considered that not an eminence in East Florida attains the 
height of 200 feet, the Sfc. John's, fed in great degree by the 
oozing waters of the Everglades, and winding through a very 
level region, will strike any stranger with astonishment as he 
ascends it and finds its average breadth for 150 miles to be 
more, rather than less, than two miles. The ebb and flow of 
the tide are quite perceptible at the upper end of Lake 
George, more than 150 miles from the mouth of the St. 
John's. 

Although the general character of the soil of Florida is 
sandy, still few portions of the whole United States are more 
bountifully provided with water, and that easily accessible. 
Springs of all kinds, some of clear sweet water, some strong- 
ly impregnated with sulphur, and others characterized by 
various mineral admixtures, are so abundant as to be little 
noticed. Some of these springs are of gigantic proportions, 
so large that complete rivers rush at once from the very 
bowels of the earth ; and to those who have never seen them, 
or those similar to them, a plain and simple description of 
these becomes almost incredible. 

Two of the most famous of these springs are thus describ- 
ed in Williams' History of Florida : " The Wakulla River 
rises about ten miles N. W. of St. Mark's, from one of the 
finest springs in Florida, or perhaps in the world. It is of an 
oval form, the largest diameter of which is about six rods. 
It is of an unknown depth and perfectly transparent. In 
looking into it, the color resembles a clear blue sky, except 
near the border, where it has a slight tinge of green from the 
reflection of the surrounding verdure, which hangs over it in 
drooping branches and waving festoons. The eastern side 
presents a rugged, rocky precipice ; all else is an abyss of 
boundless depth. Squadrons of fish are seen careering around 
* their own world ' in perfect security. The water is moder- 
ately cold, and highly impregnated with lime. 

" The beauty of the fountain, the luxuriance of the foliage 
around it, and the calm retirement of the whole scene, render 
this one of the most charming spots that West Florida af- 
fords. 



35 



" The big spring of Chipola offers a very different; scene. 
Here also a river bursts from the earth, with a giant force, 
from large masses of rugged rocks, with furious rapidity, as 
though impatient of restraint. The orifice opens to the 
south-west, from a high swelling bank, scattered over with 
large oak trees. East and west the orifice may be thirty 
feet, by eight feet wide. A large rock divides the mouth 
almost into two parts, at a considerable depth below the 
surface. The water acts as a prism ; all objects seen 
through it on a sunshiny day reflect all the colors of the 
rainbow. This spring at once forms a river six rods wide, 
and eight feet deep, which joins the Chipola River at about 
ten miles distance." 

Such is the description of the sober historian. Silver 
Spring, in Marion County, is another of these remarkable 
springs, large enough to admit to its very source the steamers 
that navigate the Ocklawaha River. 

And in any part of the State, from the sands of the sea 
beach to the clay soils of the central portion, good water can 
be easily reached in wells of from 10 to 20 feet in depth. 

A mere glance at the map will show almost innumerable 
lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks, very uniformly scattered 
throughout the whole surface of the State. 



HISTORY. 

Some little knowledge of the history of Florida is indis- 
pensable to the right understanding and appreciation of her 
present condition ; for without such knowledge, the scanti- 
ness of the present population of the State is perfectly 
inexplicable, when taken in connection with its natural 
fertility, its genial climate, and the immense scope of its 
possible agricultural production. If Florida has such a 
desirable climate and such a variety and power of vegetable 
growth, " why are there not more people there ?" is an inevit- 
able question, which is best answered by a glance at her past 
history. 



Florida was first discovered in 1497, by Sebastian Cabot, 
a navigator, sailing under the English Flag ; but formal 
possession of her territory was first taken, in behalf of 
Spain, by De Narvaez in 1525. In 1563 it is probable that 
a temporary settlement was formed near the mouth of St. 
John's by Ribault, a Frenchman. 

In 1564, under the protection of Admiral Coligny, a set- 
tlement of Huguenots was formed, under the leadership of 
Lardonierre, on the south bank of the St. John's, and about 
six leagues above its mouth. This settlement was called 
Carolin, and was completely destroyed by the Spaniards 
under Menendez in 1565, who massacred all that escaped 
death in the fight, "not as Frenchmen, but as heretics." 
This murderous act was fully avenged by a Frenchman, De 
Gourges, who in 1659 led an expedition especially against 
Fort Carolin, and massacred the Spanish garrison, " not as 
Spaniards, but as murderers." 

In 1565, the same Menendez founded a Spanish colony at 
St. Augustine, thus establishing the first permanent European 
town on the continent of North America. 

In 1584, as the result of various expeditions, the area of 
Spanish occupation and conquest had become so extended 
that the authority of Spain was acknowledged by the 
natives, not only throughout Florida, but as far west as the 
Mississipi, and as far north as the mountains of Georgia. 

In 1536 St. Augustine was attacked and plundered by a 
party of English adventurers under Drake. In 1611 it was 
pillaged by the Indians ; and in 1665 was sacked by another 
party of English pirates under Davis. 

In 1689 Pensacola was settled by the Spanish. 

In 1702 St. Augustine was unsuccessfully attacked by Gov. 
Moore, of the English Colony of South Carolina. In 1725 
Col. Palmer of Georgia also failed in an effort to take the 
city ; and in 1740 Gen. Oglethorpe, of Georgia, was signally 
repulsed in a similar undertaking. 

In 1763 the whole territory of Florida was ceded by Spain 
to Great Britain, but the entire population of the territory, 
at the time of the cession, did not exceed six hundred. 



37 



In 1767 Dr. Turnbull, an English colonist located at New 
Smyrna, imported fifteen hundred Corsicans and Minorcans, 
having deluded them by unstinted promises of land and em- 
ployment at high wages, and then subjected them to a sys- 
tem of oppression, similar and scarce less severe than 
slavery, till, after the lapse of some ten years, they escaped 
in a body from his servitude, and betook themselves to St. 
Augustine, where they settled down and ultimately became 
a prominent and valuable element of the population of that 
section. 




Catholic Church, St. Augustine. 

In 1781 the Spanish captured Pensacola, and the English 
again lost possession of Florida ; and in 1784 the territory 
was once more formally ceded to Spain. 

In 1812 Fernandina capitulated to troops of the United 
States, but was during the next year re-delivered to the 
Spanish Government. 

In 1S14 the English forces, under command of Col. Nichols, 



38 



entered and manned the forts at Pensacola, although the 
whole country was nominally under the control of Spain ; and 
in 1818 Gen. Jackson attacked and captured Pensacola, in 
behalf of the United States. 

In 1819 Florida was purchased by the United States, and 
was formally ceded by Spain. In 1822 a territorial govern- 
ment was established ; in 1 815 Florida was admitted to the 
Union ; and in January 1861 she seceded. 

Such is a brief abstract of the leading facts in the history 
of Florida. "What a picture it presents ! Discovered in 
1497, permanently settled in 1565, ceded to Great Britain in 
1763, with a population of only six hundred, after a colonial 
existence of two hundred years, receded to Spain in 1784, 
sold and ceded to the United States in 1819, receiving a 
territorial government in 1822, admitted to the Union in 
1845, seceding in 1861, and reconstructed in 1868 ; sacked 
and pillaged repeatedly by Europeans ; shifting its national- 
ity from time to time and losing almost its entire population 
by each change ; harassed and plundered by repeated Indian 
wars from 1816 to 1858, and just as prosperity began to 
dawn, plunged unnecessarily into the useless slaughter of a 
hopeless rebellion, she has suffered every evil, political and 
social, that does not involve absolute extinction. 

The wonder truly is, not that she has not attained a more 
nourishing condition, but that she exists at all, and that her 
boundless forests, her lovely rivers, and her beautiful lakes 
are not fast locked in the silent embrace of a moveless deso- 
lation. 

Without such reference to her previous history, there 
would be an irreconcilable discrepancy between the present 
condition of Florida and that which might naturally be ex- 
pected from a consideration of her fertility, her climate, and 
her resources. 



POPULATION. 

The population of Florida in 1860 was 140,123, but in 
1867 it had increased to 153,659, having thus increased by 
13,236, or something over nine per cent. 



39 



This is a very respectable addition, when we consider that 
it occurred during a period of war, and general and local dis- 
turbance and confusion. 

This population is distributed through the various counties 
of the State, as follows in a table compiled from, the census 
returns. 



I860. 1867. 



1 

Counties. 


I 

Whites. ; 

1 


Colored. 


Total. 


Counties. 


Whites 


( 

Colored. 


Total. 


Alachua 


3767 


4465 


3282 | 


Alrchua 


4191 


6812 


11003 


Biker 








Baker 


1015 


189 


1204 


Bradford .... 


3075 


745 


3820 ! 


Bradford.... 


2018 


409 


2427 


Brevard*. . . . 


224 


22 


246 I 


Brevard* 


224 


22 


246 




895 


551 


1446 


Calhoun .... 


1015 


385 | 


1400 


Clay* 


1388 


526 


1914 


Clay* 


1388 


526 


1914 


Columbia . . . 


2582 


2064 


4646 


Columbia . . . 


3577 


2732 


6309 


Dade* 


80 


3 


83 


Dade* 


80 


3 


83 


Duval 


2925 


2149 


5074 


Duval 


4580 


6696 , 


11276 


Escambia . . . 


3654 


2114 


5768 


Escambia. . 


3732 


2153 


5885 


Franklin . . . 


1378 


526 


1904 i 


Franklin .... 


1349 


566 


1915 


Gadsden 


3981 


5415 


9396 


Gad den 


3258 


4314 


7572 


Hamilton*. 


2734 


1420 


4154 


Hamilton*. . 


2734 


1420 


4154 


Hernando. . . 


1000 


200 


1200 , 


Hernando . 


1886 


835 


2721 


Hills borough 


Z-iJ O 


000 


9031 


Hillsb orougb 


lOO-J 


90S 


i or; 5? 
±y oo 


Holmes 


1271 


115 


1386 


Holmes 


1090 


95 


1185 




5263 


4916 


10209 




4241 


4499 


8740 


Jefferson .... 


3498 


6378 


9876 


Jefferson 


2543 


4546 


7089 


La Fayette . . 


1490 


578 


2068 


La Fayette . . 


1848 


194 


2042 


Leon 


3194 


9149 


12343 




3257 


11630 


14887 




1331 


450 


1781 1 




1238 


337 


1575 


Liberty 


935 


521 


14:6 1 


Liberty 


814 


473 


1317 


Madison . . . 


3521 


4253 


7779 ! 


Madison .... 


4510 


6269 


10779 


Manatee 


601 


253 


854 ! 


Manatee 


1395 


55 


1450 


^Marion 


3294 


5315 


8609 




3742 


7152 


10894 


Monro e 


2302 


Gil 


2913 




3069 


872 


3941 


Nassau 


1978 


1066 


3044 j 


; Nassau 


1871 


1631 


3502 


Orange 


823 


164 


987 ; 


Orange 


1374 


142 


1516 




1634 


1078 


2712 


Putnam .... 


1733 


939 


2722 


Polk 








i Polk 


1380 


128 


1508 


Santa Rosa . . 


4048 


1432 


5480 


Santa Kosa . . 


2111 


505 


2616 


St. John's.. 


1953 


1085 


3038 


j St. John's.. 


1906 


748 


2654 


Suwanee .... 


1467 


836 


2303 


Suwanee. . . . 


1883 


1284 


3167 




1000 


549 


1519 




1264 


502 


1766 


Taylor 


1259 


125 


1384 


; Taylor 


1363 


140 


1503 




861 


297 


1158 




858 


351 


1209 


Wakulla.... 


1672 


1167 


2839 


! Wakulla.... 


1487 


1108 


2595 


Washington . 


1670 


484 


2154 


Washington. 


1946 


362 


2308 




2584 


453 


3037 


! Walton 


2329 


293 


2622 


Total 


77747 


62676 


140123 


Total 


81994 


71665 


153659 







* No returns. Assumed to contain the same number as in 1860. 



The number of males over 21 years of age is : of whites, 
16,532, and of colored, 15,104, giving a total of 31,636. 



40 



It will be observed from the above table, that in some 
portions of the State the papulation has more than doubled 
in seven years, but this increase is owing rather to circum- 
stances, than to the comparative richness and fertility of the 
soil ; while the location of this increase along the railroads 
and navigable water courses, demonstrates that we are in- 
debted to immigration mainly therefor, and this fact is 
strongly indicative of what may be accomplished in the 
future under an active and efficient discharge of the duties 
intrusted to the Commissioner of Immigration, if the people 
of the State give him that hearty co-operation which they 
seem disposed to offer. 

Nothing but a common effort to make ' known the actual 
and possible resources of the State, and legislative action, 
is necessary to direct hither a large portion of that outflow 
of men and means which is steadily issuing from the 
Northern and latterly from the Western States, and from 
foreign countries. 



POLITICAL CONDITION AND GOVERNMENT. 

The political condition of the State may be said to be very 
encouraging. It is true that Florida, at the outbreak of the 
Rebellion, adopted the doctrines of Secession, and fought 
bravely to secure their supremacy, and suffered largely in 
the war ; but she always had a very large loyal element. 
Many of her citizens were strongly attached to the Union 
and proved it by their constancy under much suffering and 
sacrifice. The vote upon Secession was exceedingly close ; 
and while her citizens bore their full share in the support of 
the Rebellion, still, when the war was ended, her people 
accepted the result with as much good faith as the people of 
any Southern State. It was inevitable that much of bitter- 
ness of feeling should exist, and that some remnants of 
hostility should remain after the great collapse ; but it may 
with truth be said that less of bitterness and hard feeling 
was exhibited after the war, in Florida, than in any other 



41 



seceding State. And there has been less of actual outrage 
and violence than anywhere else in the Southern States. 

Florida accepted the proffered policy of President John- 
son, organized anew a State Government in all its branches, 
which went into comparatively peaceful operation. This 
caused the disappointment of many of her people to be more 
poignant when the Congressional policy of Reconstruction 
prevailed, and all her labors of reorganization were made 
futile and set aside. 

. But notwithstanding this, and although many instances of 
disorderly conduct, and some of violence and even bloodshed, 
have occurred, in no other Southern State has there been so 
little of the administration of Lynch law, or so much of quiet 
and the regular pursuit of the ordinary avocations of busi- 
ness. 

Since the election, which gave to the State a regularly 
organized State Government, the spirit of submission to law 
and of good feeling between the different classes of the citi- 
zens has been constantly and rapidly increasing ; and the 
time is not very far distant when the absolute extinction of 
the old political issues will be fully recognized, and the hos- 
tility and bitterness which were the inevitable consequences 
of civil war, will be buried with the causes which produced 
them. 

It is not intended to assert that the Reconstruction policy 
of Congress met with no opposition in Florida ; for, in fact, it 
encountered an organized and determined opposition ; but 
this opposition had more of the element of regular political 
antagonism, and less of violent and fractious conduct, than 
was found in any other Southern State. 

After a somewhat excited contest, the people of the State, 
by a very respectable majority, determined to have a Con- 
vention for the construction of a form of Constitutional Gov- 
ernment, and the Convention elected under the legislation of 
Congress, assembled at the Capitol on the 20th clay of Janu- 
uary, 1868, and, after a brief session, completed their work 
by the formation of a State Constitution, which, on being 
submitted to the people, was ratified by a large majority. 



42 



The Constitution having been approved by Congress, and all 
the conditions of the Reconstruction acts having been com- 
plied with, Florida has been readmitted to the National Coun- 
cils, and has resumed her appropriate position among her 
sister States. 

The new Constitution of Florida has been criticised se- 
verely, as was to be expected, and grave objections have been 
made to some of its provisions ; but, on the whole, we believe 
it will compare favorably with the Constitutions of the other 
States, and that under it none of the rights of the people can 
be withheld or impaired. 

The Executive power of the State is vested in a Governor, 
who is elected for four years. The Legislative power is vested 
in a Senate and Assembly. The former consists of twenty- 
four members, elected for four years ; the latter of fifty-three 
members, elected for two years. The first Tuesday after the 
first Monday in November is designated for the election of 
State and County officers and members of the Legislature. 
Annual sessions of the Legislature are to be held commenc- 
ing on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. 

The Judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, Circuit 
Courts, County Courts, and Justices of the Peace. The State 
is divided into seven Circuits. Two terms of the Circuit 
Court are held yearly in each County. The Supreme Court 
is to be held at the Capitol of the State. 

The Supreme Court is invested with the usual powers be- 
stowed upon that tribunal elsewhere, having authority to 
issue all writs necessary for the exercise of its power. 

The Circuit Courts in the several Judicial Circuits, have 
the powers and jurisdiction which usually appertain to County 
Courts in the Northern States. 

" The County Courts, which are organized in each County, 
are Courts of Oyer and Terminer, having jurisdiction of all 
civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed 
three hundred dollars ; and its jurisdiction shall be final in 
all civil cases where the amount in controversy does not ex- 
ceed one hundred dollars ; but in no case shall the County 
Court have jurisdiction when the title or boundaries of real 



43 



estate is in controversy, or where the jurisdiction will conflict 
with that of the several Courts of record ; but they may have 
co-extensive jurisdiction with the Circuit Courts in cases of 
forcible entry and unlawful detention of real estate, subject 
to appeal to the Circuit Court. The County Court shall have 
full surrogate or probate powers, but subject to appeal. 
Provision shall be made by law for all other powers, duties, 
and responsibilities of the Country Courts and Judges. 

" There shall be a regular trial term of the County Courts 
six times in each year, at such times and places as may be 
prescribed by law. 

" Grand and petit jurors shall be taken from the registered 
voters of the respective counties." 

There are some other features of the new Constitution that 
that are eminently worthy of notice : 

1. It secures immediate and absolute civil and political 
rights to all before the law, irrespective of race, color, or con- 
dition. Neither the words white or black are to be found 
in the instrument. Its spirit is that of equal rights and im- 
partial justice to all. 

2. The right of petition, of habeas corpus and the entire 
liberty of conscience, so long as that liberty does not run 
into licentiousness, are secured to all by plenary provisions. 

3. Excessive bail, that convenient iD strum ent for the grati- 
fication of private hate and public oppression, is expressly 
prohibited. 

4. The right of free speech, so far as consists with private 
justice and public safety, is amply secured. 

5. There can be no imprisonment for debt, except in cases 
of fraud. 

6. Foreigners, who are or may become bona fide residents 
of the State, are to enjoy the same rights in regard to the 
possession, enjoyment, and inheritance of property, which 
appertain to native-born citizens. 



7. Slavery and secession are in specific terms and most 
solemnly abjured, and it is provided that "this State shall 
ever remain a member of the American Union, the people 
thereof a part of the American nation; and any attempt, 
from whatever source, or upon whatever pretence, to dis- 
solve said Union, or to sever said nation, shall be resisted 
with the whole power of this State." 

8. The right to have arms in self-defence is guaranteed to 
every citizen. 

9. Ample authority for the establishment and support of 
institutions for the insane, the deaf and the blind, is given. 

10. Counties are empowered and directed to see that the 
poor are cared for at the public expense. 

11. It provides with the utmost liberality for a noble, and 
generous, and comprehensive system of education, consisting 
of free public schools, seminaries, and a university, equally 
open to all, and depending for sufficient support upon gen- 
eral taxation of all real and personal property. 

12. It makes provision for a uniform and equable assess- 
ment of all property of every description in the State, and for 
a just and equal taxation of the same. 

13. The right of trial by jury is also, by special provision, 
guaranteed to all. 

14. It relieves the persons of the poor almost entirely from 
taxation, by limiting the capitation tax for any and all pur- 
poses to one dollar per annum, thus throwing the burden of 
taxation mainly upon the property of the county. 

15. Ic exempts a liberal homestead, and a generous allow- 
ance of personal property. " A homestead to the extent of 
one hundred and sixty acres of land, cr the half of one acre 
within the limits of any incorporated city or town, owned by 
the head of a family residing in this State together with one 
thousand dollars' worth of personal property, shall be exempt- 



45 



ed from forced sale under any process of law." Such is the 
language of the Constitution, which also secures the mechan- 
ic's and laborer's lien upon property to which his labor has 
given an added value, by providing : " But no property shall 
be exempt from sale for taxes, or for the payment of obliga- 
tions contracted for the purchase of said premises, or for the 
erection of improvements thereon." 

16. All lotteries are expressly prohibited. 

17. The Governor is assisted in his deliberations by a Cabi- 
net composed of the principal officers of the State, viz. : The 
Secretary of State, the Attorney-General, the Comptroller, 
the State Treasurer, the Surveyor-General, the Superintend- 
ent of Instruction, and the Commissioner of Immigration. 
This is a novel feature in the framework of a State Govern- 
ment ; and although such an arrangement may, in case of 
dissension between different members of the Cabinet, or 
when differences of opinion between the Governor and his 
Cabinet occur which are irreconcilable, obstruct the ope- 
ration of the Government, and work harm to the best inter- 
ests of the State, still it is difficult to discern why a Cabinet, 
which the experience of years has shown to be advantageous 
in the management of national affairs, should not be desira- 
ble in the direction of affairs of a single State. 

The Governor having the sole power of nominating to the 
Senate the members of which his Cabinet must be composed, 
has, in his option, the power to surround himself with the 
soundest judgment and best ability in the State, and profit 
by their counsel and advice. It may be doubted whether 
this alone is not sufficient to counterbalance all objections 
that can be made to the existence of a State Cabinet. 

18. All the officers of the Government are made liable to 
impeachment and removal from office, not only for the causes 
commonly assignad, but also for drunkenness, gambling, and 
conduct detrimental to good morals. 

19. Bribery, betting upon the result of elections, and duel- 



46 



]ing, exclude not only from office, but also from exercising the 
right of suffrage. 

20. In all cases where a general law can be made applica- 
ble, the Legislature is prohibited from passing any local or 
special law. 

21. The Constitution extends an equal participation in all 
rights and privileges to all of foreign birth who have declared 
their intention to become citizens of the United States. 

22. " The Legislature shall enact laws requiring educa- 
tional qualifications for electors after the year 1880 ; but no 
such law shall be made applicable to any elector who may 
have registered and voted at any election previous thereto." 

23. The Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 
life ; the Circuit Judges for eight years ; the Judges of the 
County Court are appointed for four years. State Attorneys 
are also appointed for four years. Senators are elected for 
four years, members of the Assembly for two years. 

Such are some of the leading characteristics of the new 
Constitution, which, as before remarked, will compare not 
unfavorably with that of any other State. 

A somewhat extended reference is here made to the lead- 
ing features of the Constitution. First, because thoughtful 
and intelligent men who are considering the eligibility of 
Florida as a place of settlement, desire and will appreciate 
the information thus given, and secondly, because many er- 
roneous notions in regard to the character of our State Con- 
stitution have circulated abroad, deriving their origin from 
those misstatements and exaggerations which, are always 
afloat in times of political excitement. 

The possession of these features that are recognized as 
valuable in other well established and well received Consti- 
tutions, which have operated well in other States, will com- 
mend the Constitution of our State to all, while the perman- 
ence of the tenure of the J udges — giving assurance of an inde- 
pendent Judiciary — and generally the length of the tenure 



47 



of office of all the prominent officers of the State, will attract 
attention and win commendation. 

The ample provision for the easy and rapid administration 
of justice by the number and distribution of the Courts will 
form another strong claim to regard, as will also the ample 
provisions for homestead exemptions, for general education, 
and the just and liberal extension of equal rights to all of 
every class without reference to place of birth, race, or pre- 
vious condition, and many other provisions. 

Indeed, it is believed that the Constitution of Florida will 
not, upon the whole, suffer by comparison with that of any 
other State, North or South, while objections which exist as 
to some of its features in those who are necessarily, from want 
of acquaintance with our people and our peculiar circum- 
stances, forced to judge upon merely theoretical grounds, 
would disappear upon the acquisition of a more perfect 
knowledge of the circumstances in which the Constitution 
must operate, and by which its character was necessarily 
somewhat controlled. 



SOCIAL CONDITION. 

In considering the condition of society in Florida, and in 
the formation and appreciation of conclusions reached, it is 
first and always to be borne in mind that Florida, although 
in fact the oldest settled State in the Union, is, perhaps with the 
single exception of Oregon, probably the most sparsely set- 
tled, exhibiting in 1860 a population of only 2.37 to the square 
mile. 

Again in comparing, as is natural, this State with any of 
the Northern States, it is to be remembered that she started 
and has progressed under very different circumstances from 
those attending the growth and progress of any other State, 
either North or South, and has had far more than her pro- 
portion of obstacles and obstructions to contend with, both 
politically and socially. 

In other States, whatever government has been originally 



48 



adopted, the same lias thereafter remained in force, excep 
as affected by the Rebellion, with very little alteration ; and 
thus in those States, age and stability have added force to 
all the elements of growth, strength, and prosperity, and have 
tended gradually and naturally to overcome the influences 
adverse to the development of each. But from the earliest 
period in her history, Florida has had no stable and perman- 
ent growth, but has been tossed about from nation to nation 
like a veritable political shuttlecock, with no opportunity to 
grow in strength, and actually weakened by successive 
changes. 

In other States, whatever may have been the circumstances 
of their original settlement, and however adverse may have 
been the character and derivation of the different elements of 
their population, the equality of all before the law, the com- 
mon enjoyment of the same opportunities and privileges, and 
the common participation in administering democratic govern- 
ments, have all uniformly and powerfully tended, by grad ual 
but rapid assimilation, towards a homegeneity of population. 
But all such tendencies in Florida have been effectually check- 
ed by her frequent and successive changes of nationality. 
There has not been, and there could not well have been, that 
intimate commingling of races which prevails elsewhere, and 
is indispensable to political and social progress. 

Florida, though in fact an old State, has all the character- 
istics of an entirely new settled State. Its circumstances and 
its political uncertainties have not only not attracted immi- 
gration, but have really from time to time driven from her 
valuable elements of population. The better portion of the 
Spanish population departed when the English took posses- 
sion, and when, in turn, the country was re-ceded to Spain, 
the English settlers, who had just begun to receive rich re- 
wards for their agricultural investments, and by whose skill a 
brilliant future hadbegun to appear, took their departure, some 
voluntarily and some under Government compulsion ; and so, 
again and again, the progress made by each nationality was 
absolutely lost in the occupation of its successor. 

Thus the State is still a wild and new State. The rank 



49 



growth of the forest trees overshadowed and concealed the 
vestiges of successive occupations, and the traveller is often 
astonished to find in the middle of dense forests the ruins of 
mills, and houses, and the remains of ditches and canals on 
a grand scale, silent but significant mementos of a recent 
though an almost forgotten past. 

The scanty population of less than 200,000 is scattered over 
an immense territory of nearly 60,000 square miles, and has 
been engaged almost entirely in agriculture ; and the main 
and hitherto all-absorbing object of that pursuit has been the 
raising of cotton. The pre-eminence given this crop, and 
the prevalence of slave labor, have conspired to stimulate the 
universal Southern passion for the acquisition of land, and 
thus have all combined to crush out all diversity of occupa- 
tions not directly tributary to and concerned in the raising of 
cotton. There has been no tendency to settle in villages and 
communities, but the general tendency has been towards a 
separation rather than concentration of population. Whether 
or not cotton has been, " is king," it has certainly been a so- 
cial tyrant, and, decreeing its votaries to the vast solitudes of 
remote plantations, has prevented the formation of those 
small villages as centres of population, where, as in the 
Northern States, the School, the Church, the Press and Post 
Office are recognized as the essential instruments and means 
of social progress — necessities of social existence that 
must be had, rather than as conveniences or luxuries. 

Accordingly disappointment will surely meet those who, 
coming from other sections, and particularly from the North, 
anticipate the enjoyment here now of the same social advan- 
tages to which they have been accustomed at home. All 
such means of social culture and improvement are easily 
possible here as elsewhere, but here as elsewhere they must 
follow — they cannot precede — an absolute and entire change 
in the methods of agriculture, and an increase in the diversity 
of occupations. It is hard to change the habits, whether 
social or agricultural, of communities, and as hard to implant 
new social wants except by the introduction of agencies of a 
new and different character. Hence we need strong immi- 

3 



50 



gration of new men with new views and new desires first, and 
then the means of gratifying the social needs of a progressive 
society will follow. 

Schools and Churches are to be found in all the towns and 
villages throughout the State; but there has hitherto been no 
public school system in the Southern States, as such systems 
are known in the North and West. In all of these the popu- 
lation has arranged itself, and naturally enough, under the 
aristocratic tendencies of slavery, into the three divisions of 
Planters, Poor Whites, and Slaves. Safety forbade the edu- 
cation of the slaves ; the poor whites neither desired nor 
could afford the expense of private schools, and the planters, 
having the means, preferred private to public schools. And 
of course the local governments, administered in the interests 
of the wealthy classes, would neither establish nor enforce 
any system of public free schools. 

But the ratification by the people of the new Constitution 
gives assurance of the thorough reconstruction of the State 
under much more favorable auspices in all directions. The 
establishment and provision by adequate taxation for the sup- 
port of a sufficient system of public schools, is a leading fea- 
ture of the Constitution, and can easily be so administered as 
to meet all the present and future and educational wants of 
the State. 

When the inducements of various kinds which Plorida 
holds out to immigration shall be fully known in other sections 
of the country, it is confidently anticipated that a tide of popu- 
lation from all sections will flow in that will enable the ma- 
terial resources of the State to be developed, and then 
all desirable social advantages and opportunities will 
follow. 

The spirit of the people, taken as a whole, is good, as good 
as under the circumstances could reasonably be expected by 
thoughtful and observing men. In estimating properly the 
present social condition of the State, special reference must 
be had to the radical revolution that has been wrought in all 
matters, social and political, within the last few years. The 
collapse of such a rebellion, and the complete dissipation of 



51 



the dreams indulged, have, of necessity, left a degree of sore- 
ness and disappointment resulting in a bitterness of feeling 
which is not unnatural, and which could not reasonably be 
unexpected by any reasonable man. 

And one of the results has been a sort of natural settling 
of the population into three classes : the native whites, who 
favored secession ; the loyal whites with the Northerners, 
and the Freedmen ; and much time must necessarily elapse, 
under the most favorable circumstances, before these classes, 
so recently placed in such diverse and antagonistic relations 
to each other, can quietly settle down together to stand upon 
the same platform of enjoyment of identically the same 
rights, and the exercise of the same rights and privileges. It 
would simply be preposterous to suppose that in so short a 
time the small class of privileged slaveholders, forming the 
most compact and absolute social and political oligarchy 
known to history, should with perfect equanimity see them- 
selves shorn of their political power, and not only reduced to 
the common level of democratic citizenship, but constrained 
to feign cheerfulness in the extension of all the rights of equal 
suffrage and political rights to those over whom they had 
within a few years exercised all the rights of the most abso- 
lute ownership and complete control, and in addition to all 
this, to regard with instant and spontaneous affection the 
representatives of that loyalty and unionism that have 
brought these wondrous changes about. 

Having reference, then, to all these things, it may be said 
with truth that the existing feeling of the whole people of 
Florida towards emigrants is good — as good as could with 
reason be anticipated. 

While it is undoubtedly true that a stranger could not 
reasonably hope to meet with as much cordiality and cour- 
tesy in the South, as in those more fortunate regions that 
have never been tossed in the boiling cauldron of Secession, 
or been cursed with the pressure of the iron heel of conquer- 
ing armies in a bitter civil war, it is also true that there is 
absolutely nothing to deter an immigrant who seeks to bet- 
ter his condition, from settling in Florida, except the absence 



52 



of that courtesy and kindness which he would receive at the 
West, or even in the South, before the terrible struggle for 
the death of slavery had perverted the minds and embittered 
the hearts of men. 

In our correspondence, the question is often asked, " Is it 
safe for a Northern man to come to Florida ? " The answer 
is, that there is no sort of danger whatever. 

The immigrant of good character and habits will be readily 
received by all. Southern men and women are not super- 
human, and cannot be expected suddenly to absolve them- 
selves from the domination of those trains of political thought, 
and those prevalent social notions, that have ruled them for 
years, or to sympathize at once with the political ideas of a 
triumphant Radicalism. 

But the whole population of the State is becoming rapidly 
convinced that " men, money, and labor " are to be watch- 
words in the success of the future of Florida ; and, indeed, a 
recent movement has been made in concert, and associations 
are being formed in the various counties to co-operate with 
the Bureau of Immigration about to be established under the 
new Constitution, in the promotion of immigration, by offer- 
ing all practicable inducements within their power ; and, at a 
recent public meeting in Jacksonville, at which were repre- 
sentatives from all parts of the State, the most eminent and 
influential men in the State, of all parties, united in express- 
ing a determination to do all that could be done to promote 
the immigration upon which the future prosperity of the 
State must depend. 

Indeed, any good citizen that proposes to pay special 
attention to his own affairs, will be welcomed by all, and this 
without any sacrifice of principle, or any abridgment of his 
rights of free thought and free speech. 

Northern men and women, who may come and persist in 
associating exclusively with each other, and sequester them- 
selves diligently from all social intercourse with old residents, 
will be allowed thus to indulge their social predilections 
without let or hindrance. 

But those who come with a disposition, by individual or 



53 



general effort, to contribute to the common good, and assist 
the common progress, and who will, by social and kindly 
intercourse, assist in the doing away of unfounded dislikes 
and unreasonable prejudices, however boldly, and openly, 
and frankly, if only with a right purpose, they may vindicate 
their right of individual independence of thought and action, 
will not only be tolerated, but respected and cherished. 

Sfcill, it is as undoubtedly true of Florida as it was of Kan- . 
sas, and indeed is of every new State, that a want of the 
means and appliances for social comfort and advancement 
must, for a time, be expected by new comers ; and the best 
way in which immigrants may avoid the consequent incon- 
veniences and deprivations, is by coming in groups of five or 
more families, and thus secure from the first those social in- 
terchanges which are of the first importance everywhere. 

Another and commanding recommendation for such group- 
ing of such immigrants is to be found in the fact that much 
of the most valuable land, both for fertility and accessibility, 
is included in large tracts, which were originally Government 
grants, and whose owners are disinclined to divide and sell 
in smaller parcels. 

Such large tracts are often valuable, but larger than single 
settlers need or will buy, while a colony of men, who desired 
to settle together and form a community, can combine their 
means, and thus easily secure to each such portion as he de- 
sires, at reasonable rates. 

And this subdivision of large plantations is the first indis- 
pensable step to be taken before any general agricultural 
prosperity can be hoped for. 



CLIMATE. 

The climate of Florida is one of its chief attractions. Mild 
in winter, and not excessively hot in summer, the temperature 
is more equable than that of any other State of the Union. 
The thermometer rarely falls below 30 deg., or rises above 95 
deg. From the records contained in the Spanish archives at 



54 



St. Augustine, we learn that the mean temperature of the 
winter months for 100 years averages a little over 60 deg., 
and of the summer months 86 deg. Fahrenheit. Constant 
mention is made of the daily recurring sea-breeze, which 
cooled off the after part of the day, and gave a delightful 
atmosphere for nightly rest. Here in Florida, the many 
whose constitutions are feeble, or impaired by disease, can 
find a refuge from the inclement winters of the Northern 
States. 

It is not enough, however, for those who think of making 
Florida their future home, to know that her winters are de- 
lightful. They want the facts about the climate, and espe- 
cially about its healthfulness, all the year round. 

Hence no question can be more important, and, in fact, 
none is more frequently asked, than the question : " How 
does the climate of Florida affect the health of immigrants ? " 
The most unaccountable misapprehensions are very widely 
prevalent in regard to this topic, so that the received idea of 
many seems to be that Florida is a land of swamps, and her 
atmosphere surcharged with the most noxious and poisonous 
vapors, to the extent that makes the very hope of health and 
long life within her borders futile. 

Now, in fact, if the sanitary statistics of the country, and 
the official reports of sanitary officials, are entitled to the 
credence customarily conceded to them, not another State 
in the Union can show as clean a bill of health as can be 
exhibited by Florida. And this is more remarkable when it 
is remembered that a very large proportion of the transient 
population of the State is made up of invalids from other 
sections, who have come to Florida as the last resort — de- 
spairing of any sanitary improvement elsewhere. 

For very many years St. Augustine has been known far 
and wide, as one of the most healthy locations in the whole 
country, or, indeed, in the world. For a hundred years her 
streets have been filled with invalids from all parts of the 
world ; and the climate of St. Augustine is the climate of 
East Florida. Northerners have long resorted to Florida, to 
find in her mild and genial climate a relief from the piercing 



55 



winds and frigid temperature of the Northern and Middle 
States ; while the cool and wholesome winds of the Atlantic 
and Gulf have operated to bring annual crowds from Ala- 
bama, Georgia, and the Carolinas, to escape the blazing sun 
and torrid heats of those States. Those who, from frequent 
visitation and repeated experiment, are best informed, all 
unite in declaring the climate of Florida to be unequalled in 
the world for comfort and health. 




Lake Monroe, St. Joan's River. 



That many die, and of consumptive complaints, is un- 
doubtedly true ; but of most of them it may be said they 
were doomed before they left home to try a Southern climate 
as their last hops, and that their lives have often been pro- 
longed where they had long been beyond all hope of com- 
plete restoration. Many a man now in Florida is enjoying 
a fine state of health, who would have had, anywhere else, 
but slight hope of life even. 

Some of the lands in various parts of the State are low, 



56 



and at the same time are exceedingly rich ; and there, as in 
all regions where a rank and luxuriant vegetable growth is 
general, will also be found those types of diseases which else- 
where universally characterize such regions. But all such 
diseases assume a much milder type than in other sections 
where they are prevalent. 

That there is much swampy land in the State is true, and 
it is also true that the dense vegetable growth of the swamps 
and lagoons, and low hummocks must, of course, whenever 
vegetable decomposition occurs, furnish a great deal of the 
food that nourishes fevers and kindred diseases; but the 
effects of these causes are measurably counterbalanced by 
the almost constant breezes that fan the atmosphere, and 
purge its evil humors, and the immense preponderance of 
pine forests, open to the breezes, and perfuming the air with 
their pleasant and wholesome odor. 

In a series of letters from an old resident of Florida, re- 
cently republished in Ocala, the climate and healthfulness of 
Florida are quite fully treated ; and an extract from the 
pamphlet is here inserted, as more authentic and more satis- 
factory than any original matter which w T e can furnish : 

" The chmate of Florida and especially that of the penin- 
sula, taking it the whole year round, is much more agreeable 
than any other in the United States ; and indeed it would be 
difficult to find a climate in any part of the world so agree- 
able as this. The winters are delightful, five days out of six 
being bright and cloudless, and of the most agreeable tem- 
perature. In the Southern portion of the peninsula frost is 
never felt, and even far north as the Suwanee Eiver there 
are generally but two or three nights in a whole winter that 
ice as thick as a half dollar is found. Carver, in discussing 
the winters of the peninsula remarks : ' So mild are the 
winters in East Florida that the most delicate vegetables 
and plants of the Caribbee Islands experience there not the 
least injury from that season ; the orange tree, the banana, 
the plantain, the guava, the pineapple, etc., grow luxuriantly. 
Fogs are scarcely known there, and no country can be more 
salubrious.' 



57 



(C The winter in Florida resembles very much that season 
which in the Middle States is termed ' Indian Summer,' ex- 
cept that in Florida the sky is perfectly clear, and the 
atmosphere more dry and elastic. Rain but rarely falls 
during the winter months in Florida ; three, four, and not 
unfrequently five weeks of bright, clear and cloudless days 
occur continuously. This is one of the greatest charms of 
the winter climate in Florida ; and in this respect it forms 
a striking contrast with almost every State in the Union, 
and especially with Texas, California, and Oregon. 

Contrary to w T hat might be expected, the summer weather 
in East Florida is much more agreeable, and its heat less 
oppressive (though its duration is much longer) than that 
which is experienced in the Northern and Middle States. 
This is attributable, in a great measure, to its peninsular po- 
sition, which causes it to be fanned on the east by the At- 
lantic breezes, and on the west by those of the Gulf of 
Mexico, both of which can be distinctly felt in the centre of 
the State. Besides this, the north-east trade winds play 
over the whole peninsula. The summer nights are invariably 
cool, and even the hottest days are seldom oppressive in the 
shade. This is more than any State north of Florida can 
boast, and is probably owing to her peninsular position. 
Paradoxical as it may seem, the thermometer ranges much 
higher during the summer months in New York, Boston, and 
Montreal, than in St. Augustine, Tampa, or Key West. In 
the former cities the thermometer frequently ranges as high 
as 100 and 109 in the shade, and that too without any breeze 
to relieve it, whereas it but rarely reaches as high as 90 at 
any of the latter places. I am credibly informed that a 
register kept at Key West (the extreme south of Florida) for 
fourteen years, exhibited but three instances, during the 
whole period, in which the mercury rose as high as 94 in the 
shade. But, did it rise even to 104, such is the constant 
prevalence of refreshing sea-breezes, that less inconvenience 
would be experienced from it than when it was 85 in the 
humid and stagnant atmospheres of other climates. 

" General Lawson, Surgeon-General of the Army, in his 



53 



official report of the climate, diseases, etc., of Florida, 
remarks : ' The climate of Florida is remarkably equable and 
agreeable, being subject to fewer atmospheric variations, and 
its thermometer ranges much less than any other part of the 
United States, except a portion of the coast of California. 
For example, the winter at Fort Snelling, Minnesota Terri- 
tory, is 48 degrees colder than at Fort Brooke, Florida ; but 
the summer at Fort Brooke is only about 8 degrees warmer. 
The mean annual temperature at Augusta, Georgia, is 
nearly 8 degrees, and that at Fort Gibson, Arkansas, up- 
wards of 10 degrees lower than at Tampa ; yet at both of 
these places the mean summer temperature is higher than at 
Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay. In the summer season the mer- 
cury rises higher in every part of the United States, and 
even in Canada, than it does along the coast of Florida. 
This is shown by meteorological statistics in this Bureau. 

" ' The summer in Florida may be said to be seven months 
long ; so that the duration of warm weather is nearly twice 
as long as in the Middle States. The weather during the 
whole of these seven months is, however, of a very pleasant 
temperature, the night being uniformly cool, and sultry days of 
very rare occurrence. Indeed so agreeable are the summers 
in East Florida, that there is little choice between them and 
the winters, arid many of the oldest inhabitants say that 
they prefer the former.' 

" The seasons in Florida are probably as favorable as in any 
other State in the Union. There occur there, as in every other 
State, occasional droughts of too long duration, and there is 
sometimes a superabundance of rain ; but, as a general rule, 
the seasons are regular and well adapted to all the valuable 
staples of that country. Frequent showers occur during the 
months of March, April, May and June, and about the first 
of July what is termed ' the rainy season' commences, and 
continues till about the middle of September. Although it 
rains about every day during this season, it scarcely rains 
all day. These rains fall in very heavy showers, accompanied 
by thunder and lightning, and seldom last longer than four 
hours each day. They generally commence at 1 o'clock, 



50 



p. M., and are entirely over by 5 o'clock, p. m., leaving for 
the remaining twenty-four hours of the day a cloudless sky 
and a delightfully cool atmosphere.* One of the great vir- 
tues of the Florida climate is, that nearly all the rain falls 
during the productive season of the year ; and that during 
the winter months, when rains are but little required, they 
seldom fall. The reverse of this occurs in Texas, California, 
Oregon, and in nearly all the Mexican States. 

" As respects health, the climate of Florida stands pre-emi- 
nent. That the peninsular climate of Florida is much more 
salubrious than that of any other State of the Union, is 
clearly established by the medical statistics of the army, as 
well as by the last census returns. In proof of this the most 
conclusive evidence can be presented ; but it will be sufficient 
here to quote a few remarks from the Report of the Surgeon- 
General on this subject. General Lawson states : c Indeed, 
the statistics in this Bureau demonstrate the fact that the 
diseases which result from malaria are of a much milder type 
in the peninsula of Florida than in any other Stats in the 
Union. These records show that the ratio of deaths to the 
number of cases of remittent fever has been 'much less 
among the troops serving than in any other portion of the 
United States. In the Middle Division of the United States 
the proportion is one death to thirty-six cases of remittent 
fever ; in the Northern Division, one to fifty-two ; in the 
Southern Division, one to fifty-four ; in Texas, one in sev- 
enty-eight; in California, one in one hundred and twenty- 
two ; in New Mexico, one in one hundred and forty-eight ; 
while in Florida it is but one in two hundred and eighty-seven. 

" ' The general health fulness of many parts of Florida, par- 
ticularly on the coast, is proverbial. The average annual 
mortality of the whole peninsula, from returns in this office, 
is found to be 2.06 per cent., while in the other portions of 
the United States (previous to the war with Mexico) it was 
3.05 per cent.' 



* The average here is too high, 
more than one hour per day. — Ed. 



60 



" In short, it may be asserted, without fear of refutation, 
that Florida possesses a much more agreeable and salubrious 
climate than any other State or Territory in the Union." 

This proposition seems to be vindicated beyond a possible 
doubt by the statistics of the United States census of 1860, 
and this in reference to a special class of diseases in regard 
to which Florida stands in an unfavorable light, because the 
very large element of her population composed of invalids are 
in the main those who come here seeking relief from pulmo- 
nary complaints. Yet from the census of 1860, we gather 
that the proportion of those who died from consumption 
in various of the States in the Union, during the year ending 
May 31, 1860, was as follows : 

In Massachusetts, 1 in 254; in Maine, 1 in 289; in Vermont, 
1 in 404 ; in New York, 1 in 473 ; in Pennsylvania, 1 in 580 ; 
in Ohio, 1 in 679 ; in California, 1 in 727; in Virginia, 1 in 757; 
in Indiana, 1 in 792 ; in Illinois, 1 in 878 ; and in Florida, 1 
in 1,447. 

Solon Robinson says : " As to the salubrity of the climate, 
I fully believe its average equal to Indiana or Illinois, and 
certainly no worse for immigrants from any of the Northern 
States, than Central New York was in its early settlement, for 
those who went into its forests from New England. There 
are here, as there, miasmatic localities, and localities where 
mosquitoes are as pestiferous as they are in the Montezuma 
marshes — no worse, and certainly no worse than I have often 
found them at various points around New York." 

We have compiled the following tables, mainly from a 
record of Meteorogical Observations kept by Dr. A. S. Bald- 
win, through whose kindness we are enabled to give them to 
the public. Jacksonville is situated in Latitude 30 deg. 15 
min. North, Longitude 82 deg. West. Place of observation, 
14 feet above mean low water. The mean of three daily ob- 
servations is given. The highest and lowest ranges of the 
thermometer each month, for five years, from 1857 to 1861 
inclusive, are shown below : — 



61 



Mean of Three Daily Observations. 





-.857. 


1858. 


1859. 


1860. 


1861. 


Remarks. 


M0NTH3. 
























H. 


L 


H. 


L. 


H. 


L. 


H. 


L. 


H. 


L. 




January 


72 


16 


76 


38 


76 


30 


76 


40 






Ice one to two inches 


February. . . . 


81 


44 


77 


39 


79 


39 


79 


44 


75 


42 






85 


41 


83 


34 


84 


45 


83 


40 


83 


43 


thick, Jan. 19th and 




81 


47 


86 


49 


89 


53 


92 


58 


85 


54 






91 


61 


91 


66 


92 


64 


92 


58 


94 


64 


20th, 1857. 




91 


73 


92 


73 


94 


70 


97 


69 


98 


73 




July .... .... 


89 


68 


96 


74 


95 


70 


98 


74 


92 


70 






95 


75 


94 


75 


91 


75 


93 


73 


91 


73 


At 7 A. M., Nov. 25, 


September . . 


92 


64 


86 


64 


92 


70 


89 


65 


92 


58 




81 


42 


85 


62 


84 


50 


87 


53 


86 


57 


1860, the Thermometer 


November. . . 


82 


27 


79 


39 


79 


35 


80 


25 


79 


45 




December. . . 


80 


39 


78 


40 


79 


36 


72 


32 


74 


38 


stood at 25 deg. 



Earliest frost in the five years, October 27, 1857. Latest 
frost, April 28, 1858. Latest frost in 1859, February 14th. 



62 



•5 ^ 

S 53 



IS ^ 

o ^ 



;! S . 

o w *: 

^ -S 

§ O iO 



OQ0ffiOC5QOOC5O05O(X>t-C3QO 



ooiM^t'COHOOioocDoracDt-coa) 

OOHC5(MCOOO^rPt>0»OOOMWO 



OM^NI>05l>OOXt>COO^CDOCO^ 
(N^l>^cOlOlCOO(N(M(N(MCDt'(NO^ 



WCO(NOCD(M(MTPOOCO(Nt>OXQHO:CO -CO 



H030C00002^«05HCOCO©(NOOCO 
L— CO fc— L— w CO L— CO O ^ b- b- L— 



• OS 



Kl(MOWCOXO(NHlO(NQOK5 0fOOiHCO • IO 
COCOO(X)CO(>|C0^010qi>(NCO^OI>H -00 

^a5dodo6^dda5t>H055Doiic56c505 

L— fc— X L— t— L— X L— fc— r— X fc— I— I— L— X fc— fc— 




iooou:coioa)THc»Tii^^o5^ocoooco • oo 

CO^OCSCO^OOOOHt-^COQOrtliMlxMlO . O 

^(NOOSOdddHHCOHNOSfNO^O • CO 

xxxt-xxxxxxxxxt-xxaox • x 



OOOitCOIXNOO^OJt-lOOOOOMOcOlOLOO 
OOOhC0H(N(NC00010C000OtJ(C0CT©O© 

n os h h os'co doocddooHooidcoHHO 

XXt-XXt-t-Xt-t-Xt-XOOt-acaoXXX 



OOOQH?q(MCOC003H(MOiHCO(Nt>00© 
OlOOOP5CCt-<M^(M ( COHI>WT(l«Pt»WO 

rHt^a5>^fc^*6^oaot^^c6cdcq^»^oc©a) 

X t— fc— t— fc— fc— fc— t— fc— L— L— fc— fc— L— fc— L— L~ fc— fc— 



OOOI>b-(NH(NiOX00OOOl0iOO(N03 • 
OOOt-Ht>HHO^HCOt-ffi(M(NOO(M • 

iHdoiHiod^mdHcodos • 



do6d(NOOHdcjHwdi>c6dHc6oios 



rP^ooi>Hoom©q(Nioco(Niot>^ojTi;Qo 
cd^^^^^iowHiooddHdHdcooidw 



OO^OiOH^COQt-QOt-t>(NCOHCSWCO(^ 
OOTtiOOSHCOHHtxWOlOCOHOOCOmcOfM 

^^^ooco^dwHOOH^dcit^QOHddcd 



oow^cooi>oco^cocoh«:©(Ngooo 



^lOOl-OOOSOH^WTtflOCOb-OOOlOHCDt- 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



63 





rH 

CO 


CD 


rH 

to 


CO 


^H 

to 




cd 

CO 


rH 

b- 


SO 
b- 


d 
to 


CO 
•HJ 


Dec 


CO 


cd 

CD 


CO 

o 


CO 
CD 


CD 
X 


l~ 

tO 


rH 

CO 


rH 
b- 


rH 

CO 


CO* 
rH 


> 


<M 
rH 


CD 


CO 
CO 


CO 
(N 


b- 

co 


o 


H* 

CO 


co 

CO 


b- 


ci 

-H 


rH 

CO 


Oct. 


GO 
GO 


<M 


rH 
,— 1 


HH 


to 


rH 
b- 


b- 


CO 
b- 


CO 

to 


b^ 




O 

CO 


co 

<d 


cq 

CD 


rH 

CO 


CO 

X 


© 


CO 

b- 


CO 
b- 


rH 

CO 


h" 

CO 


CO* 

to 


Aug. 


80.56 


co 

"HjH 

d 

CO 


O 

Cts 
CN 
CO 


cn 

00 
rH 
b- 


to 
© 

d 

b- 




o 

CD 


<M 


o 
o 


to 

b- 


•HH 


1-3 


d 

GO 


d 

GO 


CO 
CO 


co 

b- 


CO 
b- 


QJ 
fl 


CO 
CO 


CO 


CO 
CO 




rtl 


1=1 

.»-s 


cd 

b- 


CD 
b- 


rH 

GO 


CO 

co 


X* 

CO 


!>> 


O 

*o 


tH 
CO 


O 
rH 


<M 
00 


b- 

CD 




CO* 

b- 


CO 
b- 


CD 
b- 


CD 

to 


CO* 

to 


'5 


00 
b- 


<M 
CO 


00 
CO 


O 
1^. 


^H 
CO 


a, 


°° 


b- 


to 

b- 


00 
•Ht 


CO* 

to 




CO 


(M 
b- 


00 
CO 


CO 
CO 


HH 




CO 
CO 


b- 

CO 


cm" 

b- 


L~ 

CO 


rH 

CO 


Feb. 


tH 

cd 

CD 
tO 


to 

CO 

co 


00 
CO 

GO 
CO 


o 

X 
00 
<M 


b- 

to 

br 
rH 


i=i 


CO 

o 


CO 
tO 


CO 
CO 


X 
CI 


CO 
b- 


t-s 


tO 


rH 

CO 


CO 
CO 


CO 
<M 


CO* 
rH 



.3 

"-+3 

'CD 
32 



15* 

PQ 

a 

H 



CD 



.S 
*© 

■+3 

O 



6± 



The above Table shows the monthly and yearly mean of 
twenty years at St. Augustine ; of twenty-five years at Tam- 
pa Bay ; of fourteen years at Key West ; of thirty-one years 
at "West Point, and of thirty-five years at Fort Snelling. 
"While at the latter point the main annual variation in the 
range of the thermometer is 59.84 deg., at St. Augustine it is 
but 23.87 deg., and at Key West but 16.32 deg. 

While the heat in Florida is not more intense during the 
summer months than at times in all the Northern States, in 
winter the thermometer in Northern Florida even rarely sinks 
to the freezing point. 



65 





00 


rH 


o 


o 


LO 


LO 


b- 


LO 


© 






© 


00 




rH 


CM 


b- 


a: 


b- 


00 


CN 


ON 


LO 






CM 


to 




00 


CM 


co 


00 


co 


00 


O 


q 


CM 






as 


as 




CO 




CO* 




cs 


CO 


as 


id 


LO 






CM 




g 


LO 


^ 


io 


CO 


"HjH 


"HH 


■HH 


CO 








© 




6 


o 


00 


o 


o 


LO 


o 


O 


o 


o 


o 


O 


LO 


as 


LO 


rH 


o 


o 


CM 


LO 


LO 


o 


LO 


o 


O 


CM 


00 




t— 


CO 


CM 


rH 




o 




b~ 


o 


o 


co 


s ". 




P 




CO 






oi 




CO 


rH 


CM 


rH 






CM 


> 


o 


o 


© 


LO 


LO 


o 


o 


o 


o 


O 




O 


• b- 


LO 


LO 


to 


CM 


00 


LO 


LO 


LO 


LO 


o 




o 


' 00 


o 


cn 


CM 








"3 


rH 


CO 


LO 


q 






* °^ 


j 


rH 


cm 


CO 


oi 


CO 


rH 


oi 


CO 










! rH 








©) 


© 


© 




© 


©) 


f~! 


© 


© 


© 


tf*i 




o 


o 


o 


LO 


o 


rH 


o 


o 


LO 


o 


LO 


o 


! LO 


o 
O 


CO 


b- 


LO 




ON 


q 


o 


LO 


as 


CM 


rH 


b- 


b- 




CO 


cs 


rH 


oi 


cm 


on 


oi 


cm 




CO 


CO* 


"HH 


co 


1 


o 


lo 


O 


o 


o 


LO 


iO 


o 


o 


o 


o 


O 


LO 




o 


CM 


LO 


"HH 


© 




CM 


LO 


LO 


LO 


LO 


o 


CO 


i 


CO 






cO 














CM 


CO 






OS 


OS 


© 




rH 


co' 


© 


LO 


rH 




00 


"HH 


CO 








rH 








rH 










rH 






l 

o 


O 


o 


o 


O 


o 


CM 


o 


O 


o 


q 


O 


LO 




o 


o 




LO 


LO 


LO 


CO 


L0 


LO 


LO 




O 


o 




q 


b- 


cs 


rH 


CM 


CO 


LO 


rH 


o 


00 


LO 


q 


b- 




CO 


cn 


00 


CO 




© 




ON 


00 


b^ 


o 


CO 


b^ 


















rH 






rH 








00 


<© 








©> 




^ 








LO 




CO 


o 


OS 


LO 


LO 




LO 


LO 


o 


LO 


o 


b;- 






"HH 




CO 




00 


b- 




b- 




as 


LO 




CO 


1-3 






CO 


cm 


o 


00 


00 


co 


CO 


as 


o 


as 














r— ' 


















o3 


o 


o 


o 


LO 


LO 




00 




o 


o 


LO 


o 


CM 




o 


TH 


o 


cm 


cm 


LO 


LO 


LO 


o 


CO 


ON 


LO 


CO 


PS 


LO 


CM 


00 


"H 


■HH 


CO 


q 






LO 


rH 


cc 


CO 


Ha 


b- 


CO 


LO 


lo 




CO 


rH 


rH 


CO 


rH 




as' 






o 


o 


o 


o 


o 


o 


rH 


o 


o 


LO 


o 


o 


CO 


>> 


o 


CM 


LO 


o 


LO 


o 


O 


LO 


LO 


b- 


LO 


LO 




& 


CS 


lO 


"HH 


o 


o 




o 




b- 


"HH 


as 


00 ' 


CO 






rH 


■HH 


rH 




CO 


CO 


rH 


co' 


CO 


cm' 


CM 


cd 


ri 


o 


00 




O 


o 


»o 


o 


O 


o 


o 


o 


o 


o 




o 


CO 


LO 


LO 


CO 


o 


LO 


LO 


o 


LO 


o 


LO 


LO 


& 


00 


CM 


CO 


rH 


CO 


GO 


CM 


rH 


b- 


as 




00 


CO 




CO 


o 


rJH 


rH 


rH 


cm 


rH 


CM 


cd 


CO 


tH 


rH 


CM 




o 


o 


O 


O 


O 


o 


O 


O 


o 


q 


o 


O 


CO 




o 


o 


rH 




LO 


OI 


LO 


LO 


o 




LO 




o 


3 


CO 


LO 


CO 


CO 


b- 


CS 


LO 


CO 


b- 


CO 


rH 


rH 


LO 




CO 


cm 


rH 


LO 


LO 


ci 


CO 


LO 


CM 




"HjH 


^' 


CO* 




© 




o 


o 


o 


© 


LO 


© 


© 


© 


© 


O 


CO 




o 


o 




o 


LO 


o 


b- 


o 


O 


LO 


O 


LO 


LO 




co 


q 


rH 


LO 


o 


q 


co 


CO 


CO 


LO 


CM 












cm 


rH 


CO 




LO 


cm 


tH* 


CM 




co 


CM 




o 


o 




O 


o 


LO 


o 


LO 


O 




o 


o 


as 


LO 


o 




LO 


o 


b- 


LO 


b- 


LO 




o 


CM 


as 




t- 


q 


o 




as 


rH 


o 


o 


CO 




CM 


CO 


LO 


1-3 




on 


CO 


rH 


LO 


rH 


CO 


ci 










CM 


i 


cm 


CO 




LO 


CO 


b- 


00 


as 


o 


rH 


CO 


b- 


c3 


$ I 


LO 


LO 


lo 


LO 


LO 


LO 


LO 


LO 


CO 


CO 


CO 


CO ! M 




00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 


00 i 


H i 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 


rH 1 





66 



It appears from the above Table that more rain falls in 
August, and less in November, than in any other month. 
The last season, as every one who spent the summer of 1867 
in Florida will remember, was a very wet one, and the Table 
shows that more rain fell during the year than in any pre- 
vious year of which we have the record; the enormous 
quantity of 14.600 inches falling in the month of September 
of that year. 

The climate of Florida forms an inducement to immigra- 
tion so strong that an extract or two from well-known authors 
upon this subject will not be considered out of place. Mr. 
Williams, whose work on the History of Florida was pub- 
lished in 1837, and is of very good repute, says : 

" The climate of Florida is various, embracing six degrees 
of latitude and as many of longitude. We necessarily feel a 
great difference of temperature between the north and south, 
as well as between the east and west. The mean tempera- 
ture of St. Augustine is about 69 J degs. It is a little higher 
in Pensacola ; at that place it is also colder in the winter. 

" Frost is felt at some seasons, in any part of Florida, 
though not usually below latitude 27 degs. During eighteen 
years that we have resided in Florida the greatest heat has 
been 96 degs. of Fahrenheit, in the shade. Three or four 
times it has risen to this height, and on the 6th of April, 
1828, it was as low as 30 degs. At that time ice was made 
an inch thick at Six Mile Creek, and cut off the crops of corn 
and cotton as far south as Tomoko, while at St. Augustine 
and Dunn's Lake the marks of frost were scarcely discover- 
able. In usual seasons the mercury rises to about 90 degs. 
in the hottest da} r s of mid-summer, and falls to 43 degs. dur- 
ing the coldest days of winter. 

' : In West Florida the north-west winds are felt much more 
powerfully than in East Florida. Its effect on fruit trees is 
exceedingly obvious. 

" The sweet orange cannot be depended on at Pensacola, 
while at St. Augustine its usual seasons afford the staple 
of commerce. 

" The land and sea breezes alternate with much greater 



67 



regularity in West than in East Florida. The peninsula of 
East Florida projects so far to the east as to divide the cur- 
rent of the Florida wind ; one portion of it passes up the 
coast, and forms the charming sea breeze that fans us so 
constantly each day of summer, except it be kept in check 
by the north-east wind. 

" In West Florida the struggle is between the north-west 
wind and the trade wind. During winter our north-east 
winds are chilly, damp, and often rough ; but they are never 
charged with frost, which is often the case with the north- 
west." 

In a work published in 1823, by Charles Yignolles, " Civil 
and Topographical Engineer," and generally considered one 
of the best books on Florida extant, is found the following : 

" The climate of the whole of Florida during eight months 
of the year, from October to June, is delightful, and one al- 
most continuous spring ; as the range of the thermometer in 
the hot months of summer is only from 84 degs. to 88 degs. of 
Fahrenheit, and, constantly cooled by sea breezes, they are 
by no means so oppressive as in the Carolinas and Georgia, 
and such intense sultry weather as marks the Northern dog 
days is seldom if ever felt. 

" Generally speaking, the springs and summers are dry ? 
and the autumns changeable ; the winters are mild and even 
serene ; snow is scarcely seen at St. Augustine — twice in a 
century — but the black frost is an occasional visitant, though 
at the severest times the ice has never been formed thicker 
than the sixteenth part of an inch ; its action has never ex- 
tended south of Cape Canaveral, and but very rarely reaches 
Mosquito Inlet. The nipping of the white frost occasionally 
is felt as far as the extreme Capes of Florida, though not an 
annual visitant. 

" The duration of the cold or frost of any kind never lasts 
but a few hours, and seldom occurs more than once or twice 
a month in January, which is the severest month. The cold 
winds are always from the north-west. 

" The rains and dews, without being troublesome, create 
at most seasons such a luxuriant vegetation that the surface 
of the earth is never without verdure. 



68 



{i The long absence of the sun, the days and nights being 
nearly equal, gives the ground time to cool and recover from 
the daily evaporations. 

" Another pleasant consequence of this is the very delight- 
ful freshness of the nights in the sultriest season of the year, 
by which the body is refreshed, the sleep sound, and the nat- 
ural faculties restored to vigor. * * * 

" That not only St. Augustine, but such parts of East 
Florida as have been occupied, are healthy, is to be clearly 
inferred from the fact of the Ninth Regiment of British In- 
fantry having been stationed during the Revolutionary War 
in detachments at St. Augustine, Matanzas, Piccolati and St. 
Mark's, and during a period of twenty months not losing a 
single man by natural death. 

" That the climate is good for patients of a consumptive 
habit is notorious, several persons during the last winter and 
spring from Carolina and elsewhere having recovered their 
health ; and that the air is not at any season hurtful, is gen- 
erally known from the circumstance of the native and foreign 
ladies walking till late in the moonlight on summer and 
autumn evenings, with only the slight coverings on their 
heads of their lace veils or mantillas, and many even without 
these. Medical men have stated that dampness or discolor- 
ing of plaster, soon moulding of bread, moisture of sponge, 
dissolution of loaf sugar, and rusting of metals, are marks of 
bad air. Now, all these are marked at St. Augustine, and, 
notwithstanding, it is very healthy. This dampness is occa- 
sioned by the saline particles, which, arising from the sea, by 
no means occasion sickness." 



SOIL. 

At first sight the Northern and Western farmer will be in- 
clined to believe much of the soil of Florida nearly worthless. 
So far from the truth, however, is this impression, that it will 
not hold good even of the forest lands, the " black jack" 
ridges, and the low " flatwoods." The soil is generally sandy, 



69 



with more or less admixture of clay, lime, and organic matter. 
The greater portion of the lands in Florida may be designated 
as pine lands ; the pitch and yellow or long beard pine (Pimis 
Labrusca) being the principal timber. In the hummocks it 
is mingled with white, live and water oak, gum, bay, hickory, 
magnolia, cabbage, palmetto, etc., etc. 

The classification of lands in common use being based upon 
their elevation and the character of their vegetable growth, 
does not indicate very fully the quality of the soil. There 
are the hummock, pine, and swamp lands. Then there is the 
high and light hummock, and the low or heavy hummock ; of 
pine lands there are the first, second, and third rate. The 
characteristic of hummock land as distinguished from pine is 
in the fact of its being covered with a growth of underbrush, 
while the pine lands are open. Whenever, then, the land is 
not so low as to be called swamp, and produces an under- 
growth of shrubbery, it is called hummock. 

The late Dr. Byrne, an old resident of Florida, in a series 
of letters written in 1860, gives a description of the lands in 
Florida, so accurate and so well adapted to our purpose, 
that we copy it nearly entire : 

" There is in every State and Territory in the Union, a very 
large proportion of barren and poor lands ; but the ratio of 
these lands differs greatly in different States. Florida has a 
due proportion of poor lands; but compared with other 
States, the ratio of her barren and worthless lands is very small. 
With the exception of the Everglades, and her irreclaimable 
swamp lands, there is scarcely an acre in the whole State of 
Florida that is entirely worthless, or which cannot be made, 
under her tropical climate, tributary to some agricultural 
productions. Lands which in a more northern climate 
would be utterly worthless, will, in Florida, owing to her 
tropical character, yield valuable productions. For example, 
the poorest pine barren lands of Florida will produce, with- 
out manure, a luxuriant crop of Sisal hemp, which yields 
more profit to the acre than the richest land will when culti- 
vated in sugar, cotton, or tobacco. So it is with numerous 
other valuable tropical products that are adapted to the 



TO 

lands, that in more northern climates would yield nothing to 
agriculture. Besides this, there are in Florida no mountain 
wastes — no barren prairies ; and there are but few acres in 
the whole State not under cultivation, that are not covered 
with valuable timber. 

I shall here give a brief sketch of the different descrip- 
tions of the lands in Florida. 

Pine lands (pitch and yellow pine) form the basis of Florida. 
These lands are usually divided into three classes, denoting 
first, second, and third rate pine lands. 

That which is denominated " first rate pine" land in Florida 
has nothing analogous to it in any of the other States. Its 
surface is covered for several inches deep, with a dark vege- 
table mould, beneath which, to the depth of several feet, is a 
chocolate colored sanely loam, mixed for the most part, with 
limestone pebbles, and resting on a substratum of marl, clay, 
or limestone rock. The fertility and durability of this de- 
scription of land may be estimated from the well-known fact 
that it has on the Upper Suwanee and in several other dis- 
tricts yielded, during fourteen years of successive cultivation, 
without the aid of manure, four hundred pounds of Sea Island 
cotton to the acre. The lands are still as productive as ever, 
so that the limit of their durability is still unknown. 

The " second rate pine" lands, which form the largest pro- 
portion of Florida, are all productive. These lands afford 
fine natural pasturage ; they are heavily timbered with the 
best species of pitch and yellow pine ; they are, for the most 
part, high, rolling, healthy and well-watered. They are gen- 
erally based upon marl, clay, or limestone. They will pro- 
duce for several years without the aid of manure, and when 
cow-penned, they will yield two thousand pounds of the best 
quality of sugar to the acre, or about three hundred 
pounds of Sea Island cotton. They will, besides, when 
properly cultivated, produce the finest Cuba tobacco, oranges, 
lemons, limes, and various other tropical productions, which 
must, in many instances, render them more valuable than the 
best bottom lands in the more northern States. 

Even the lands of the " third rate," or most inferior class, 



n 



are by no means worthless under the climate of Florida. This 
class of lands may be divided into two orders — the one com- 
prising high rolling sandy districts, which are sparsely cov- 
ered with a stunted growth of " black jack" and pine ; the 
other embracing low, flat, swampy regions, which are fre- 
quently studded with " bay galls," and are occasionally in- 
undated, but which are covered with luxuriant vegetation, 
and very generally with valuable timber. The former of 
those, it is now ascertained, owing to their calcareous soil, 
are well adapted to the growth of Sisal hemp, which is a val- 
uable tropical production. This plant (the Agave Sisiliana) 
and the Agave Mexican Hemp, also known as Maguay, the 
Pulke Plant, the Century Plant, etc., have both been intro- 
duced into Florida, and they both grow in great perfection 
on the poorest lands of the country. As these plants derive 
their chief support from the atmosphere, they will, like the 
common air plant, preserve their vitality for many months 
when left out of the ground. 

It is scarcely necessary to add, that the second order of the 
third rate pine lands, as here described, are far from worth- 
less. These lands afford a most excellent range for cattle, 
besides being valuable for their timber and the naval stores 
whi ch they will produce. 

There is one general feature in the topography of Florida, 
which no other country in the United States possesses, and 
which affords a great security to the health of its inhabitants. 
It is, that the pine lands which form the basis of the country, 
and which are almost universally healthy, are nearly every- 
where studded, at intervals of a few miles, with hummock lands 
of the richest quality. These hummocks are not, as is gener- 
ally supposed, low, wet lands ; they never require ditching or 
draining ; they vary in extent from twenty acres to forty 
thousand acres, and will probably average about five hundred 
acres each. Hence the inhabitants have it everywhere in 
their power to select residences in the pine lands at such 
convenient distances from the hummocks as will enable them 
to cultivate the latter without endangering their health, if it 
should so happen that any of the inhabitants proved to be 
less healthy than in the pine woods. 



72 



Experience in Florida has satisfactorily shown that resi- 
dences only half a mile distant from cultivated hummocks 
are entirely exempt from malarial diseases, and that the ne- 
groes who cultivate those hummocks, and retire at night to 
pine-land residences, maintain perfect health. Indeed, it is 
found that residences in the hummocks themselves are gener- 
ally perfectly healthy after they have been a few years cleared. 
Newly cleared lands are sometimes attended with the de- 
velopment of more or less malaria. In Florida the diseases 
which result from those clearings are, as I stated in my for- 
mer letter, generally of the mildest type (simple intermittent 
fever); while in nearly all the Southern States they are most 
frequently of a severe grade of bilious fever. 

The topographical feature here noted, namely, a general 
interspersion of rich hummocks, surrounded by high, dry 
rolling, healthy pine woods, is an advantage which no other 
State in the Union enjoys ; and Florida forms, in this respect, 
a striking contrast with Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, 
whose sugar and cotton lands are generally surrounded by 
vast alluvial regions, subject to frequent inundations, so that 
it is impossible to obtain, within many miles of them, a 
healthy residence. 

It would seem paradoxical that the malarial diseases of 
East Florida (abounding as it does in rich hummock lands, 
and exposed to a tropical sun) should generally be of a much 
milder form than those which prevail in more northern lati- 
tudes. That such, however, is the fact, there can be no 
doubt ; for this fact is proved by an aggregate of evidence 
(extending over more than twenty years) which it is impossi- 
ble to resist. It is suggested, in explanation of this fact, that 
the luxuriant vegetation which in the Southern and Middle 
States passes through all the stages of decomposition, is in 
East Florida generally dried up before it reaches the putre- 
factive stages of decomposition, and that, consequently, the 
quantity of malaria generated is much less than in climates 
more favorable to decomposition. This view is strengthened 
by the facts, that the soil of Florida is almost everywhere of so 
porous and absorbent a character that moisture is seldom 



73 



long retained on its surface ; that its atmosphere is in con- 
stant motion, and that there is more clear sunshine than in 
the more northern States. It is further suggested that the 
uniform prevalence of sea breezes, and the constant motion 
of the atmosphere in the peninsula, tend so much to diffuse 
and attenuate whatsoever poison is generated, that it will 
generally produce but the mildest forms of malarial disease, 
such as intermittent fever. 

The lands which in Florida are, par excellence, denomi- 
nated "rich land," are first the "swamp lands;" second, the 
"low hummock lands;" third, the " high hummocks," and 
fourth, the " first-rate pine, oak, and hickory lands." 
^ The swamp lands are, unquestionably, the most durably 
rich lands in the country. They are the most recently formed 
lands, and are still annually receiving additions to their sur- 
face. They are intrinsically the most valuable lands in Flo- 
rida, being as fertile as the hummocks, and more durable. 
They are evidently alluvial and of recent formation. They 
occupy natural depressions of basins, which have been grad- 
ually filled up by deposits of vegetable debris, etc., washed in 
from the adjacent and higher lands. Ditching is indispen- 
sable to all of them in their preparation for successful culti- 
vation. Properly prepared, however, their inexhaustible 
fertility sustains a succession of the most exhausting crops 
with astonishing vigor. The greatest yield of sugar ever 
realized in Florida was produced on this description of land, 
viz., four hogsheads per acre. That this quantity was pro- 
duced on Dummitt's plantation, near New Smyrna, is a fact 
well known to those conversant with sugar planting in East 
Florida. Sugar cane is here instanced as a measure of the 
fertility of the soil, because it is one of the most exhausting 
crops known, and is generally grown without rest or rotation. 
It is not, however, a fair criterion by which to judge of the 
relative fertility of lands situated in different climates, for we 
find on the richest lands in Louisiana the product of sugar 
per acre is not more than one hogshead, or about half that 
of East Florida. 

This great disparity in the product of those countries is ac- 



74 



counted for, not by any inferiority in the lands of Louisiana 
or Texas, but by the fact that the early incursions of frost in 
both these States render it necessary to cut the cane in Octo- 
ber, which is long before it has reached maturity, while in 
East Florida it is permitted to stand, without fear of frost, 
till December, or till such time as it is fully matured. It is . 
well known that it " tassels " in East Florida, and it never 
does so in either Louisiana or Texas. "When cane " tassels" 
it is evidence of its having reached full maturity. In conse- 
quence of the heavy outlay of capital required in the prepa- 
ration of this description of land for cultivation, and from the 
facility of obtaining hummock land, which requires no ditch- 
ing nor draining, swamp land has been but little sought after 
by persons engaged in planting in Florida ; and there is now at 
least a million of acres of the best description of this land va- 
cant in the country, and which can be secured at less than two 
dollars per acre. Yast bodies of it lie convenient to navigation 
and railways, and, doubtless, will soon be sought after with 
avidity, as soon as the sugar planters of Louisiana and Texas 
become apprised of its character, and of the many advantages 
which sugar planting in Florida presents over any other State 
in the Union. 

Loiv Hummocks, which from the fact of their participating 
in the nature of hummocks and swamps, are sometimes termed 
Siumnmock, are not inferior to swamp lands in fertility, but 
perhaps are not quite as durable. They are nearly always 
level, or nearly so, and have a soil of greater tenacity than 
that of the high hummocks. Some ditching is necessary in 
many of them. The soil in them is always deep. These lands 
are also extremely well adapted to the growth of the cane, as 
has been well attested by the many plantations which were for- 
merly in operation here on this description of land. There 
is not nearly so large a proportion of low hummock as there 
is of swamp lands. 

High Hammocks are the lands in the greatest repute in 
Florida. These differ from low hummocks in occupying 
higher ground, and in generally presenting an undulating 
surface. They are formed of a fine vegetable mould, mixed 



75 



with a sandy loam in many places two feet deep, and resting 
in most cases on a substratum of clay, marl, or limestone. It 
will be readily understood by any one at all acquainted with 
agriculture, that such a soil, in such a climate as Florida, 
must be extremely productive. This soil scarcely ever suffers 
from too much wet ; nor does drought affect it in the same 
degree as other lands. High hummock lands produce with 
but little labor of cultivation, all the crops of the country in 
an eminent degree. Such lands have no tendency to break 
up in heavy masses, nor are they infested with pernicious 
weeds or grasses. Their extraordinary fertility and produc- 
tiveness may be estimated by the fact in several well-known 
instances, in Marion County (Clinch's, Mcintosh's, etc.), that 
three hogsheads of sugar have been made per acre on this 
description of land, after it had been in cultivation six years 
in successive crops of corn, without the aid of manure. 

To sum up its advantages, it requires no other preparation 
than clearing and ploughing to fit it at once for the greatest 
possible production of any kind of crop adapted to the cli- 
mate. In unfavorable seasons it is much more certain to 
produce a good crop than any other kind of land, from the 
fact that it is less affected by exclusive dry or wet weather. 
It can be cultivated with much less labor than any other 
lands, being remarkably mellow, and its vicinity is generally 
high and healthy. These reasons are sufficient to entitle it 
to the estimation in which it is held over all other lands. 

The first-rate pine, oak, and hickory lands are found in 
pretty extensive bodies in many parts of the State, particu- 
larly in Marion, Alachua, and Hernando Counties. From the 
fact that those lands can be cleared at much less expense 
than the swamp and hummock lands, they have heretofore 
been preferred by the small planters, and have proved re- 
markably productive. 

There are, besides the lands already noticed, extensive 
tracts of Savannah lands, which approximate in character, 
texture of the soil, and period and mode of formation, to the 
swamp lands, differing only in being destitute of timber. 
Some of these lands are, however, extremely poor. 



Y6 

Probably the largest bodies of rich hummock land in East 
Florida are to be found in Levy, Alachua, Marion, Hernando, 
and Sumpter Counties. There are in Levy County alone, 
not less than one hundred thousand acres of the very best 
description of sugar lands ; and there is but a small propor- 
tion in any of the five counties here cited, that will not pro- 
duce remunerative crops of Sea Island and short staple 
cotton, without the aid of manure. 

The lands on the St. John's river, taken as a whole, are not 
as fertile as in some other sections of the State. There are, 
however, thousands of acres of rich hummock land within a 
mile of the river, which are, as yet, unbroken forest, and the 
pine lands are much better than the average of the whole 
State. Besides, there is an abundance of muck on the banks 
of the river and its tributaries, which furnishes a most ex- 
cellent fertilizer. Lime, marl, and shells are also easily ob- 
tained, and have been used with very beneficial results. 

In Middle Florida, the Counties of Leon, Gadsden, J effer- 
son, and Madison, have large quantities of high, rolling hum- 
mock land ; also the County of Jackson, in "West Florida. 
They are much more undulating than in East Florida, and 
are underlaid with a stiff red clay. They are by far the best 
lands in the State for short staple cotton, to which they have 
been almost exclusively appropriated. There is in Volusia 
County, a range of low hummock, a little back from the 
coast, from a half to two miles wide, and extending from tha 
head of the Halifax to the head of the Indian River, some 
fifty miles, as well adapted to sugar cane as any land in 
the State. The Gulf hummock in Levy County comprises 
perhaps the largest body of rich land in Florida. It was 
bought up years ago at from five to ten dollars per acre by 
private parties, by whom it is mostly held at the present 
time. The Florida Railroad runs through it, and it will no 
doubt become, at an early day, one of the garden spots of 
the State. The clearing of the hummocks, however, is ex- 
pensive, and, as in every new country, we may expect to see 
the lands more lightly timbered first brought into cultivation. 



77 



FACILITY OF COMMUNICATION— EXTERNAL AND 
INTERNAL. 

Florida, from her peculiar geographical position, has ad- 
vantages for quick and easy communication with all parts of 
the commercial world, with which few, if any, sections of the 
country can compete. In the first place, she has an exceed- 
ingly large proportionate coast line. Having an average 
breadth of only about one hundred miles in the peninsular 
portion of the State she extends some four hundred miles 




Brock's Hotel, Enterprize, St. John's River. 



from north to south, and thus has a coast line of some eleven 
hundred miles, with a large number of harbors, bays and 
estuaries ; the easy and certain exit from and to which 
largely increases her facilities for communication. 

Her relative situation, also, in reference to one of the great- 
est channels of commercial travel, is of great value. She is 
thrust directly across one of the great highways of traffic by 



T3 



her extension southward between the Gulf of Mexico and the 
Caribbean Sea. By this, so far as proximity is concerned, 
she may be said to command the commerce of South Ame- 
rica, Mexico, Texas, the Mississippi Valley, and the West 
Indies. She is within one and one-half days of New Or- 
leans, within three days of New York, and within one day of 
Savannah and Cuba, by steamer. It is said that a cargo of 
cotton shipped from Eernandina or Jacksonville, or St. Au- 
gustine, will often reach Liverpool before a vessel from New 
Orleans or Texas will have reached the Caribbean Sea. It 
is evident that from her position must result great advantages, 
both to producer and consumer of the great staples of com- 
mercial exchange. 

And the State has an abundance of very good harbors, 
through which these commercial advantages of position 
could be improved. Pensacola, Tampa, and Eernandina 
have upwards of twenty feet of water ; Cedar Keys, St. John's 
Bar, and Charlotte Harbor have twelve feet and upwards, 
while the harbor of Key West is said to have more than 
thirty feet. 

And the means of internal communication are also very 
good. Many roads, traversing the State in different direc- 
tions, were made many years since, while the State was un- 
der Spanish and English control ; subsequently other roads 
became necessary during the protracted Indian wars, and 
were constructed by the army. The soil of the major por- 
tion of the State is so free from stone, the pine forests are so 
sparse, and the soil so porous, that roads are built with com- 
parative ease, and are not very liable to wash. Hence, 
roads are abundant, though often rather heavy from the 
sand. 

Eew portions of the United States are as well furnished as 
Elorida with the means of internal navigation. The St. 
John's, the Suwanee, and the Appalachicola are all large 
streams, navigable for steamboats for more than one hundred 
miles, the St. John's for more than two hundred. In addi- 
tion to these are many others, some like the Oclawaha, 
navigable for small steamboats, and others only feasible for 



79 

small vessels — indeed so many, that but a small portion of the 
State is remote from water communication. 

The St. John's would be a very remarkable stream any- 
where, and seems the more so from the fact that its whole 
course lies through an extremely level region. It is about 
three hundred miles in length, is for one hundred and fifty 
miles of an average width of more than one and a-half miles, 
and carries a volume of water much larger than does the 
Pdo Grande, which is one thousand miles long. Many of its 
tributaries are navigable to quite a distance by steamboats, 
and it is supposed that this river and its navigable branches 
give one thousand miles of water transportation. 

The internal communication by means of railroads is re- 
markably abundant for a State so comparatively new in 
many respects. There are railroads connecting Fernandina 
and Cedar Keys, J acksonville and Quincy, Tallahassee and 
St. Mark's, and Pensacola will in all probability be soon con- 
nected with Quincy, and also with the roads running north, 
while another road is in contemplation from Live Oak, 
southward, to Tampa, and from Jacksonville to St. Augus- 
tine. 

Large sea-going steamers ascend the St. John's several 
times in each week as far as Palatka, from which place 
smaller steamers ascend the St. John's to Lake Munroe, and 
the Oclawaha to Silver Spring and Lake Griffin. Were a 
railroad or canal to be built across this small distance inter- 
vening between the sources of the St. John's and Indian 
Biver, and from Pablo Creek to the south, all of which is 
supposed could be done for what it often costs to build a 
single mile of railroad at the North, this State would possess, 
on completion of the roads already projected, a system of 
internal communication equal to any in existence. 



80 



PEODUCTIONS. 

FIELD CROPS. 

In no State of the Union can so extensive a variety of 
valuable productions be successfully cultivated as in Florida. 
Most of the crops grown in the temperate zone flourish in 
the northern portion of the State. Nearly all the peninsula 
is adapted to the cultivation of semi-tropical fruits. At least 
one-fourth of the entire area of the State is south of the line 
of frost, and will grow successfully the tropical productions 
of the West Indies. Heretofore cotton has been the princi- 
pal staple. Indian corn has been largely raised, but not in 
sufficient quantity to supply the home demand. Tobacco 
and sugar have been grown to some extent. Of late, how- 
ever, attention has been turned to other productions, and a 
new era in the development of the resources of Florida has 
already commenced. On the St. John's river and along 
the railroads, the culture of vegetables for the northern mar- 
kets is receiving much attention, and is no longer an experi- 
ment. Fruit growing, hitherto neglected, is being prosecu- 
ted with energy, and cannot fail to become one of our most im- 
portant interests. There are large quantities of land in Flori- 
da yet in a state of nature, admirably adapted to the culture 
of cane, and there is little doubt that within a few years 
sugar will become an important staple. In giving an account 
of the more important productions, we have condensed into 
a small space much information concerning their cultivation, 
etc., which to those unacquainted with the climate and soil 
of Florida will prove, we doubt not, both interesting and 
useful. We place first on the list 

INDIAN CORN. 

It is to the mass of the people the " staff of life." It is 
grown in all parts of the State. On rich bottom lands from 
fifty to sixty bushels per acre are raised, while on ordinary 
pine lands, without manure, ten bushels per acre is a fair 
crop. February is the best month to plant. The common 



81 



method is to plant in hills, four feet apart each way, thinning 
out to one or two stalks to each hill at the first plowing. 
Three plo wings are usually given; the last early in June. 
The hand-hoe is used at the first and second plowings, to 
cut the weeds not turned under by the plow. It is custom- 
ary, in the latter part of July, after the cotton crop has been 
laid by, to strip off the blades and bind them in bundles for 
fodder ; but we doubt if it will pay at the present cost of labor. 
During the fall months the ears of corn are broken off and 
stored in the crib without husking. This is to prevent the 
depredations of the weevil upon the grain after it is stored. 

COTTON. 

In 1860 Florida produced 63,322 bales of ginned cotton. 
The crop of last year, though much less in quantity, exceeded 
in value that of 1860, but did not pay the cost of cultivation, 
on the whole. Without doubt, however, it will continue to 
be cultivated and to be an important staple, but will not, as 
formerly, monopolize the capital and industry of the country. 
Both the long staple or Sea-Island, and the short staple or 
upland cotton are cultivated. There is but little long cotton 
grown west of the Suwanee river, except in the County of 
Gadsden, and scarcely any short cotton east of the Suwanee. 
April is the month for planting. Many commence the last of 
March. The picking season commences the last of August, 
and continues until Christmas. Two hundred to three hun- 
dred pounds of short cotton per acre is a fair yield upon or- 
dinary soils, but five hundred pounds per acre is not an un- 
usual crop on strong land. Long cotton produces from one 
hundred to two hundred pounds per acre as an average crop, 
but under favorable circumstances three hundred and even 
four hundred pounds have been raised. We cannot enter 
into the details of its culture, and give no estimates upon the 
cost of cultivation. It is generally conceded that the planta- 
tion system must pass away, and the large landed estates be 
divided up into small farms, to.be cultivated in the main by 
those who hold the title to the soil. This change, of course, 

6 



82 



is not to be effected in one year or five ; but there is reason 
to believe that this generation, even, will see it consumma- 
ted. Whether cotton will continue under the new system to 
be our most important staple is, of course, problematical ; but 
the conditions under which it will be cultivated will be so 
different, that an estimate of the cost of cultivation under the 
present method would be of little value. 

SUGAR. 

Sugar cane has been cultivated in small patches for home 
consumption, and to some extent for market. The adapta- 
bility of the soil and climate of Florida to its culture has long 
been known ; but, owing to a variety of causes, its resources in 
this direction have hardly begun to be developed. As early as 
1823, Vignolles writes as follows : " Eespecting sugar, the 
recent successful trials that have been made upon it have 
determined the curious fact, that it will grow in almost any 
of the soils of Florida south of the mouth of St. John's river ; 
the great length of summer, or period of absolute elevation 
of the thermometer above the freezing point, allows the cane 
to ripen much higher than in Louisiana." Williams, writing 
in 1837, says : " This (sugar) ought to be the staple of the 
country. Experiments in every part of the territory prove 
that all our good lands w'll produce sugar cane as well as 
any other crop." Further on he says : " A general impres- 
sion has prevailed that sugar could not be made to advantage 
unless a great capital is invested ; but experience abundant- 
ly proves that a small capital may be as profitably employed 
in the culture of cane as in any other product." The truth of 
the above statement has been proved by recent experiments. 
A correspondent of the Evening Post, writing from Enterprise 
the past winter, says : " Sugar cane has been raised with 
success for many years. I saw on the farm of O. C. Arnett, on 
the lake, the largest field I have yet found in the State. He 
cultivated ten acres. His land is hummock, and has been culti- 
vated without manure for nearly twenty years. Mr. Arnett's 
crop was not planted until the middle of February, instead 
of the usual time, between Christmas and the last of January. 



83 



He banked the earth around the cane throughout the sea- 
son, leaving a deep furrow between the rows. He has just 
finished manufacturing his crop, and finds that it has pro- 
duced at the rate of 1,500 lbs. of sugar and 300 gallons of 
molasses to the acre. Allowing a gallon of molasses to make 
5 lbs. of sugar (a low estimate), and we have 3,000 lbs. to the 
acre from land which has been cultivated without manure 
for near twenty years. Solon Kobinson, who spent the past 
winter in Florida, gives an extended account of the experi- 
ments of Mr. W. W. Eolden, of Orange County, in the culture 
of sugar cane, from which we extract the following : " Mr. 
Holden's place is upon just such land as composes the great 
body of East Florida — that is, dry sandy soil with clay deep 
down ; the most common growth long-leaf pine (pinus palus- 
tris), some oaks, hickory, holly, and other trees, and a natural 
growth of weeds that would astonish a Northern farmer. 
With good cultivation in a favorable season, Mr. Holden 
estimates a fair crop of corn at 20 bushels per acre in that 
vicinity. His crop last year was 17^ bushels per acre. Since 
the war he has been experimenting with sugar cane upon 
such land as I have described — that is, good fair quality, 
sandy, pine land ; such as gave 17^ bushels of corn to the 
acre ; and this is the result. He had, the past season, 2^ 
acres of ' plant cane ' (a term used to distinguish it from that 
which grows after the first year from the rattoons), worked 
in the same way and to the same amount as he worked his 
corn ; and planted the same distance apart in February. It 
is usual to make beds for the cane. He did not, but culti- 
vated flat and not as much as would have been profitable. 
He has (January 15) just finished grinding, and has 20 bar- 
rels of beautiful sugar, worth 13c. per lb. at the mill, and 
11 barrels syrup, worth 75c. per gallon. He uses a three- 
roller iron mill, driven by a pair of horses, and it requires 
himself, three men, and two boys, ten days to work up the 
crop." Mr. Robinson estimates the cost of the above crop 
at $450. Estimating 225 lbs. of sugar to a barrel, at the 
prices mentioned the crop would amount to $673.65, or 
$388.33 per acre. Beyond question, the ordinary yield of 



84 



sugar per acre in Florida is nearly twice as great as in Lou- 
isiana, and the soil is much easier tilled. The cane pro- 
duces well from the rattoon for three to five years, and even 
longer in the southern portion of the State. Experiments 
which have been made in fertilizing, indicate that swamp 
muck is one of the very best manures for this crop. Of this 
there is an abundance within the reach of almost every man's 
farm. But there are thousands of acres of rich hummocks 
yet in a state of nature, which are susceptible of producing, 
for a series of years, without manure, as fine crops of sugar 
as any that grow in the West Indies. The idea has been 
prevalent that sugar-making must be conducted on a large 
scale to make it profitable, but this is an error. " I am now 
well satisfied," says Mr. Robinson, " that small farmers can 
grow cane upon any good pine land, by manuring, and can 
make sugar as easily as Yankee farmers make cider," and he 
adds : " Undoubtedly it would be more remunerative, indeed 
extremely profitable, on a large scale." 

SWEET POTATOES. 

Next to Indian corn, the most important article of vegeta- 
ble food in common use is the sweet potato. They do best 
on a light soil, well manured. The yield per acre is from 
100 to 300 bushels, depending upon the season, culture, and 
quality of soil. They are propagated from the seed, like 
Irish potatoes ; from draws, and from the vines. Under the 
first method, the potatoes are planted in hills or drills, early 
in the season, and cultivated very much the same as Irish 
potatoes. By the second method, the potatoes are planted 
thickly in a bed; when they have sprouted two or three 
inches, the young shoots, called draws, are broken off and 
set out in the field. This must be done in damp or showery 
weather. The third is by cutting off and planting out pieces 
of the vines after the plants have commenced running. The 
crop raised from vines is later, but frequently not inferior, 
either in quantity or quality, to that raised by the other 
methods of propagation. The early crop begins to mature 
about midsummer. The crop is a profitable one and deserv- 



85 



ing of more attention, as a market crop, than it has hitherto 
received. Sweet potatoes bear shipment well, and always 
command good prices in the Northern markets. 

IRISH POTATOES. 

This crop does not produce as well as at the North, but is 
off in time to be followed by a crop of sweet potatoes the 
same year. They should be planted in January, although 
good crops are sometimes obtained from later planting. A 
covering of muck, grass, or coarse compost, is very beneficial. 
The potatoes are fit for digging in May. They can be 
shipped without difficulty, and at a moderate expense, to the 
Northern markets, where they are worth eight to nine dollars 
per barrel. The culture is essentially the same as that prac- 
tised at the North. 

EICE. 

There is much low land in Florida, well adapted to the 
culture of rice. It has been raised to quite an extent for 
home consumption. Forty to sixty bushels per acre of rough 
rice is an average crop. It is not likely to become a staple 
crop, still it maybe cultivated to advantage in many locations. 
It is much used as an article of food by all classes. 

TOBACCO. 

Cuba tobacco was largely cultivated in the County of Gads- 
den before the war, and to some extent in some other portions 
of the State ; but it is now almost entirely neglected. The 
cultivation is somewhat tedious. There is no crop that re- 
quires so constant attention. Three cuttings in a season are 
produced from the same stalks. Tobacco is an exhaustive 
crop, and requires a fertile soil. Still its cultivation on a 
small scale may be made extremely profitable. Seven hun- 
dred pounds to the acre is an average yield. 

INDIGO. 

Under the British occupation of Florida, indigo was the 
principal staple. It is a sure crop, but its culture has been 



86 



wholly abandoned. The plant has become naturalized or is 
indigenous, and is found growing wild in various parts of the 
State, and will, doubtless, at some future time, be cultivated 
extensively. 

SISAL HEMP. 

Dr. Henry Perine introduced the Sisal hemp into South 
Florida some twenty-five years ago, from Yucatan. It is 
truly a tropical plant. The soil and climate south of the line 
of frost are well adapted to its growth. Heretofore the diffi- 
culty has been in devising some economical method of separ- 
ating the fibre from the pulp. A machine has been invented 
recently, which is cheap, and believed to be efficient. Con- 
cerning its culture the late Wm. C. Dennis, of Key West, 
says : "It is no longer an experiment here, as to the growth 
of the plant, the amount of the product or the value of the 
fibre. It requires no replanting and very little care after the 
first year or two. A ton of cleaned hemp can be made to the 
acre, worth at least $300 per ton." 

CASTOK BEAN. 

The Palma Christi, or castor bean, grows luxuriantly. In 
the southern portion of the State it is perennial, and attains 
the size of a small tree. It is frequenty seen in gardens and 
in waste places. We do not know that any experiments have 
been made in its cultivation as a field crop ; but we deem it 
worthy of attention. 

SILK. 

Much has been said and written about the breeding of silk- 
worms, and production of silk, in Florida. At one time silk- 
growing received considerable attention at St. Augustine. 
The conditions for a successful prosecution of the business 
seems peculiarly favorable. The mulberry is a native of our 
forests. Cocoons of the silk-worm are often found upon 
them. The climate is more mild than that of Italy. There 
is no reason why this valuable staple should not be largely 
produced. 



87 



COFFEE. 

We know no reason why coffee should, not be grown suc- 
cessfully south of the 28th parallel ; but we have not been 
able to learn, from any reliable source, that any experiments 
have been made in its culture. More than forty years ago, 
a Philadelphia Company sent out an expedition to explore 
the country and select suitable spots for the cultivation of 
the coffee plant ; but the project was abandoned, Congress 
refusing the grant of lands required by the Company. If our 
climate and soil should be found suitable for the culture of 
coffee, it could not fail to become, in a few years, an impor- 
tant staple. 

TEA. 

The efforts which have been made heretofore to introduce 
the culture of tea into the United States, do not seem to have 
met with the success which had been anticipated. The soil 
of Middle Florida is said to resemble in quality that which 
is so much sought after in Assam by tea-growers, and its 
culture may become an important branch of industry at some 
future day. 

PEAS. 

The common English pea is not cultivated as a field crop. 
The cow-pea is extensively grown, and produces excellent 
crops. It resembles the bean family in the appearance of its 
foliage and the manner of its growth. It is common to sow 
them between the rows of corn at the last plowing. They 
will produce from ten to fifteen bushels per acre, besides a 
large amount of forage. On account of the luxuriant growth 
of vine, on poor soils even, its culture as a green crop, to be 
turned in, has been recommended. 

PEA-NUTS. 

The pea-nut, pinder, goober or ground-pea, as the plant is 
variously called, grows well on almost any warm, light soil. 
The seed should be planted early in the spring. The after 
cultivation is simple. A hundred bushels to the acre is an 



83 



average crop. They are worth $2.50 to $3.00 per bushel. 
The nut produces an oil, which is said to be equal to the 
finest olive oil. 

EAMIE. 

The Ramie plant has been recently introduced into Louisi- 
ana. It is believed it will become an important Southern 
staple. The plant produces a fibre of fine quality and glossy 
whiteness, which is used in manufacturing cloths, either by 
itself or mixed with silk or wool. It is a hardy and vigorous 
grower, and, in this climate, perennial. The Rainie belongs 
to the family of Urlicaceoe, of which the common nettle is an 
example, and to which the hemp plant belongs. It is claimed 
that the fibre of the Ramie is stronger than the best Euro- 
pean hemp ; that it may be spun as fine as flax, and that it 
is doubly durable ; that it will produce from three to five 
annual crops, each equal to the best gathered from hemp. 

AEEOW-EOOT. 

The Koonta, or Indian arrow-root, grows wild in the south- 
ern portion of the peninsula. It was formerly manufactured 
quite extensively ; the sole labor consisting of bringing it 
from the forest lands and conveying it to the mill; the 
simple stirring occasioned by the digging being sufficient to 
secure a better crop than the one just removed. 

The Bermuda arrow-root also flourishes, producing, even 
on pine lands, from two hundred to three hundred bushels 
per acre. The yield of merchantable arrow-root flour, ob- 
tained by the imperfect mills, is from six to eight lbs. to the 
bushel. 

WHEAT, EYE, AND OATS. 

Wheat has been grown in the northern part of the State, 
but is so uncertain a crop that it is not cultivated. Rye and 
oats are raised to some extent, chiefly as forage crops. They 
should be sowed early in the winter. Unless the crop ripens 
before warm weather comes on, very little grain will be ob- 
tained. 



00 



GARDEN VEGETABLES. 

Under this head we shall notice the crops usually culti- 
vated in market gardens, to the production of which the soil 
and climate of Florida are admirably adapted. The grow- 
ing of vegetables for the Northern markets has not, until re- 
cently, received nuch attention. In view of the fact, how- 
ever, that vegetables grown here can be placed in the 
markets of the Northern seaboard cities from a month to six 
weeks earlier than from any other point, many have been 
encouraged to experiment, while some parties have engaged 
in the business quite extensively. The chief difficulty which 
has been encountered is that of transportation. Mistakes 
have also been made in picking too green or too ripe ; and 
careful packing for shipment has not received sufficient at- 
tention. The delays incident to transhipment at Savannah 
or Charleston have been such that in several instances ship- 
ments of tomatoes have become utterly worthless on reach- 
ing New York. This year howevever, the connections are 
closer, and we do not hear so much complaint. There is 
little doubt, however, that before another season a line of 
steamers will run between Jacksonville and New York. This 
will save from one to two days' time on the passage, besides 
the reshipment. Direct steam communication will enable the 
gardeners on the St. John's river to place in the New York 
market, in good condition, and with little risk if properly 
packed, tomatoes, cucumbers, green pease, snap-beans, melons, 
green corn, etc., etc., as early in the season as required, 
and at a fair profit. We have little doubt that Florida will 
become, at no distant day, the early market garden of all the 
Northern cities. Another year will see the business largely 
increased.* 

TOMATOES. 

The tomato is easily cultivated, and produces abundantly. 
If the soil is not already in good condition, fertilizers should 



* Our statements as to the time of ripening, etc., of the various crops, apply to the latitude 
of Jacksonville, unless otherwise stated. As far south as Enterprise, nearly all the vege- 
tables cultivated in a market garden can be ripened any month in the year. 



n 



be used. It is bad policy to attempt to raise any garden 
crop on poor soil. Ifc ripens from May to July. Early lots 
sell for almost marvellous prices in New York — $1,200 has 
been netted from a single acre. Colonel Hodman, who has 
had much experience with this crop, says it will yield from 
four hundred to five hundred bushels to the acre, in ordinary 
seasons. By the use of cold frames there would be no diffi- 
culty in having ripe tomatoes at Jacksonville in March, and 
by the aid of an ordinary hot-bed they could be had during 
the entire winter. South of Palatka they are ripened in the 
open air every month in the year. 

CUCUMBERS. 

In May last, Florida cucumbers were quoted at $10 per hun- 
dred in the New York market. At this rate they would be an 
exceedingly profitable crop. The plant has to contend with 
few of the enemies which prove so destructive at the North. 
It is ready for market about the same time as the tomato, and 
bears shipment exceedingly well. 

MELONS. 

There is no country where the watermelon attains greater 
perfection than in Florida, and we might add, where they 
can be raised with less care. The muskmelon and cantaloup 
also flourish. Melons and cucumbers should be planted in 
March ; April will do, however, for melons, and sometimes is 
necessary — the first plants being occasionally destroyed by 
cold weather. Watermelons being bulky, and liable to in- 
jury from handling, are not so well adapted for shipment as 
tomatoes and cucumbers ; but thousands have been shipped 
the past season, and profitably laid down in New York. 
They are abundant all through June and July. 

PEASE. 

Soils that contain some lime, quite rich and moderately 
moist, are the best for pease. The month of January is the 
best time to plant. The crop will then be ready for market 
in April, at which season green pease command high prices 



92 



in New York. They bear shipment well, and will be found 
a profitable crop. 

BEANS. 

Beans of all kinds grow well, particularly the Lima bean, 
which should be planted early in March. The Lima, or but- 
ter-bean, as it is commonly called, is found in almost every 
garden. Of its value as a market crop we are unable to 
speak. Snap-beans are very prolific, and their culture for 
shipment North is worthy of attention. 

CABBAGES AND TUKNIPS. 

Cabbages succeed best in winter Sown in fall, they will 
produce fine heads in the spring months. A rich and moist 
soil is best suited to the crop. Turnips can be had fresh 
nearly every month in the year. In the summer they do not 
bottom well, but are a valuable winter crop. Cauliflower, 
brocoli, and kohl-rabi are grown without difficulty. The lat- 
ter is very common in our market. 

BEETS, ETC. 

Beets do best in a deep, rich, moist soil. For winter use, 
plant in September or October ; for summer, in January or 
February. Carrots and parsnips should be treated in the 
same manner. None of these crops produce as well as at 
the North. 

MISCELLANEOUS CHOPS. 

Nearly, if not quite all the vegetables usually cultivated in 
a good family garden can be raised for home use. Squashes 
are grown with great ease and of the best quality. Onions 
grown from " sets " seem to produce best. Lettuce, rad- 
ishes, cellery, etc., etc., grow to perfection; also peppers, 
parsley, etc. Asparagus and rhubarb succeed with the usual 
attention. The egg-plant does finely. Okra is found grow- 
ing in every gardem It is highly prized by the old residents. 
The edible part is the green seed-pods ; from these the cele- 



93 



brated gunibo soup is made. They are also boiled and 
served as asparagus. 

It may be observed that, with proper care and attention, 
fresh vegetables may be had for the table every day in the 
year. For a family to be thus supplied would be desirable, 
both on the score of health and economy. In warm climates 
vegetable food is more wholesome than animal, and we urge 
upon all new comers the importance of giving early atten- 
tion to the kitchen garden. 



FKUITS. 

Whatever opinion may be formed as to the adaptation of 
Florida to the successful cultivation of farm and garden 
crops, there can be but one opinion as to its fitness for the 
growth of tropical and semi-tropical fruits. In this respect 
Florida enjoys a monopoly which, when fairly developed, will 
make her one of the richest and most important of the United 
States. Oranges, lemons, pineapples, and various other 
tropical fruits, will yield an average profit of at least one 
thousand dollars per acre yearly. It is the adaptability of 
the climate to these productions that makes even the inferior 
lands of Florida susceptible of producing crops more valua- 
ble than those of the best lands in other parts of the 
Union. The culture of fruit in Florida, without doubt, offers 
greater opportunities for practical and energetic fruit-grow- 
ers, than in any other part of the Union. It is the apprecia- 
tion of this fact that is awakening such an interest in the busi- 
ness, and bringing to our shores large numbers from nearly 
every State. To supply, as far as possible, the general want 
of information upon the subject of fruit culture in Florida, 
we have collected the following pages from the materials in 
our possession, and from individual observation. 

ORANGES. 

The orange belongs to the citrus family in which are in- 
cluded the lemon, lime, citron, shaddock, and similar fruits. 



94: 



The varieties are numerous. In their native state they con- 
tinue flowering nearly all the summer, and for a considerable 
portion of the year. Every stage of growth, from the flower, 
bud, and ripe fruit, can be seen on the same tree. The 
sour orange and the bitter-sweet grow wild upon the St. 
J ohn's and Indian rivers, and in many other parts of the pen- 
insula. A correspondent of the New York World, writing 
from Indian Kiver, says : " The primeval woods on the banks 
are vast gardens of the sour wild orange, the juice of which is 
acrid as vinegar, and when mixed with sugar and water makes 
an excellent beverage that has many tonic qualities, that act 
as a preventive or cure of the light fevers of the country. 
These oranges are to be found in nearly every part of the 
woods, and we often had to clear the ground of vast quanti- 
ties of the fuit before we could pitch our tents." The orange 
is a sure crop. The tree is long-lived, and has very few ene- , 
mies. The scale insect (coccus Jieoperidum), which first made 
its appearance in 1833, and for a time proved a formidable 
enemy to the orange tree, has nearly or altogether disappear- 
ed. North of the 30th deg. of latitude, except on the St. 
John's and Appalachicola rivers, the crop is somewhat doubt- 
ful, being liable to be cut off by frost. Once, indeed, since 
the settlement of the country — in 1835 — the orange and most 
other fruit trees were destroyed as far south as the 28th deg. 
of latitude. At that time there were trees growing at St. Au- 
gustine more than one hundred years old. 

The oranges of Florida are celebrated for their superior 
quality. At present the best method of establishing a grove 
is to set out the wild orange trees, and, at the proper time, 
bud it with the sweet orange. The sour trees may be dug 
up at any time during the winter and transplanted. They 
are usually cut off three to four feet from the ground at the 
time of taking up. During the summer months shoots large 
enough to bud will start out ; two or three of the best are se- 
lected, and the others rubbed off. The buds grow the first 
year. The tree usually commences bearing the third year 
from transplanting. By the fifth year a grove, well cared for, 
ought to average 100 to the tree. The trees should be set 20 



95 



feet apart, which gives about 100 to the acre. Wild trees 
can be had in Jacksonville at about $50 per hundred. They 
are brought from the hummocks on the upper St. John's. 
When the supply of wild orange trees is exhausted — as it 
will be, doubtless, within a few years — resort to nursery stock 
will be necessary. But their propagation is not difficult. 
Grown from the seed, at the end of three years the trees will 
be five to six feet high, and an inch or more in diameter. 
These should be set out in the orchard and budded, as de- 
scribed for the wild stocks. 

The orange will grow upon almost any soil, but in order to 
secure good crops, a moderate degree of fertility is required. 
There is no place where the tree does better than upon the 
shell hummocks, indicating that lime is a valuable fertilizer. 
This can easily be supplied in the shape of marl or shells, 
in any part of the State. Swamp muck is also a good ma- 
nure. 

A grove in full bearing should average five hundred to the 
tree. Many trees will bear f j?om one thousand to three thou- 
sand per year. Mr C. F. Reed, of Mandarin, raised twelve 
thousand from three trees the past year — one tree bearing 
three thousand two hundred, one three thousand three hun- 
dred, and one five thousand five hundred. Some of them 
weighed as high as nineteen ounces. William Edwards, 
Esq., of Micanopy, has a fine grove of seventy-two trees in 
bearing, some of which bear from two to three thousand or- 
anges each. 

In Jacksonville oranges have sold, the past season, at from 
twenty-five to sixty dollars per thousand. Taking five hun- 
dred as the average per tree, and one hundred trees to the 
acre, and we have fifty thousand oranges from an acre, which, 
at forty dollars per thousand, which may be taken as the 
average price, will give two thousand dollars ; while at twen- 
ty-five dollars, the lowest price at which good oranges were 
sold, we have one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars as 
the income from a single acre. It requires no great outlay 
of capital to start an orange grove, and its care involves no 
more labor than the care of an apple orchard of the same 



96 



size. We leave it for parties interested to calculate the pro- 
fits arising from an orange grove of ten acres in full bearing. 
We are quite sure that the credit side of the sheet will show- 
that the profit of growing the orange is larger in proportion 
to the expenditure of money and labor, than that derived from 
the cultivation of any other crop grown in the United States. 
The largest grove in the State is situated on the east coast, 
near Cape Canaveral. It is known as Dummit's Grove, from 
the name of the proprietor. It contains some one thousand 
three hundred and fifty trees, which have produced, in a single 
year, seven hundred thousand oranges. The soil is a light 
sandy loam, underlaid with a rotten limestone. We believe 
that this is the only grove in the State exceeding one thou- 
sand bearing trees. 

LEMONS, LIMES, CITKONS, ETC. 

It will be unnecessary to go into detail regarding these • 
fruits, since the remarks which we have made in regard to 
the soil, climate, and culture required for the orange, will 
apply equally to them. The lemon is, perhaps, a trifle more 
hardy than the orange. The Sicily lemon, budded on the 
sour or bitter-sweet orange, does finely. Last fall, E. B. 
Cram, Esq-, of this city, sent to a friend in New York some 
specimens of oranges and lemons, as samples of what Florida 
can raise ; in the collection was a small branch upon which 
grew seven lemons. Six of these averaged 13 inches in cir- 
cumference, and the whole weighed just seven pounds. They 
were raised by M. I. Phillips, Esq., two miles from Jackson- 
ville. 

The lime is a prolific bearer, and a most wholesome and 
excellent fruit. In South Florida the tree is in bearing 
nearly the whole year. The green fruit makes a fine pre- 
serve. They are easily propagated and come into bearing 
early. Doubtless a good business could be done at raising 
them for the juice, which is an article of commerce. 

The citron grows on a straggling bush, which requires 
support while the fruit is ripening. We have seen them six 
to eight inches in diameter, of a rich yellow color, hanging 



97 



from the slender branches, fitting emblems of the golden 
fruits of autumn. The citron does well wherever the orange 
flourishes. 

The shaddock resembles a large lemon. It is a coarse 
fruit, and of little value except for culinary purposes. 

The grape fruit is similar to the shaddock. 

All the above can be propagated by budding, more easily 
even than the orange. 

PEACHES. 

The peach attains its highest degree of perfection at the 
South. The trees possess more vigor and greater longevity 
than at the North. But little attention has been paid to the 
cultivation of the better varieties, but they seem to do equally 
well with the native seedlings, from which the greater por- 
tion of the fruit brought to our market is produced. So well 
adapted is the climate to the growth of the peach, that they 
are found growing wild by the road-sides and in the corners 
of the fences. With direct steam communication, there will 
be no difficulty in shipping them to New York, where, during 
the months of June and July, they would command high 
prices. D. Redmond, of Augusta, Georgia, late editor of 
the Southern Cultivator, says : "When the peach tree receives 
anything like proper culture or attention in our climate, it is 
liable to no diseases ; and is far more thrifty and long-lived 
than in more northern localities. We have no yellows, nor 
similar malady; and all that is necessary to keep the tree in 
perfect health is judicious pruning (shortening in) and fre- 
quent stirring of the surface soil around it." 

GKAPES. 

The South is the true home of the grape. It is found wild 
in the forests of Florida, and grows luxuriantly. In the 
southern part of the State three crops of grapes in a year 
are gathered. The Black Hamburg, White Muscat, Golden 
Chessalas, and other foreign grapes grow and fruit finely in 
the open air. The Concord succeeds well, and is so much 
improved that it is nearly equal in quality to the Black Ham- 

7 



98 



burg. The Scuppernong is cultivated more widely than any 
other variety. It makes a fine wine by the addition of a 
little sugar ; equal to any manufactured in California, as we 
have been assured by good judges. Over 2,000 gallons have 
been made from an acre. But little attention has been given 
to vine culture, and, doubtless, varieties may be found better 
adapted to our soil and climate than any of those men- 
tioned. 

FIGS. 

Of all the fruits cultivated in the South, says a distin- 
guished horticulturist, the fig requires the least care, and is 
one of the most useful. It is propagated readily from cut- 
tings, which usually bear the second year. During the sum- 
mer months the fig may be found upon the breakfast tables 
of all lovers of fine fruit. When ripe, it is mild, rich and 
luscious, without being cloying even to those of the most 
delicate appetite. Being very perishable, it is valuable only 
for the home market. The dampness of the climate does not 
admit of its being put up like the figs of commerce. This 
difficulty may, doubtless, be overcome by artificial means, 
and would mJke the fig an article of great commercial value 
to the State. A moist and fertile soil is best suited to the 
fig ; but it grows readily in almost any location. Every one 
in Florida who owns a foot of land may literally " sit under 
his own vine and fig tree." 

POMEGRANATES'. 

The pomegranate is common in Florida. There are the 
sweet and sour varieties. The bush is a pretty, ornamental 
shrub, and, with its beautiful blossoms and oendant fruit, is 
decidedly ornamental. The rind is very bitter, and has been 
used as a substitute for Peruvian bark ; but the juice, which 
is contained in little sacks surrounding the seeds, is a pleas- 
ant acid, and quite agreeable. 

APPLES, PEARS, AND QUINCES. 

These fruits have been cultivated in the northern part of 
the State, but we cannot recommend them as worthy of 



90 



general attention. There are instances of the pear having 
been grafted on the wild hawthorn with good results. The 
quince, too, maj succeed moderately well under favorable 
circumstances. 

PLUMS, CHERRIES, ETC. 

The plum grows wild all over the State, and some of the 
varieties are scarcely inferior to many of the cultivated sorts. 
The tree is not subject to "black knot," or other serious 
maladies. Doubtless, the better varieties can be successfully 
worked on the wild stocks. The cherry does not succeed 
well ; the currant, also, has been reluctantly discarded. 
Apricots and nectarines succeed quite as well as the peach. 

BERRIES. 

There is no place where the blackberry is more perfectly 
at home than in Florida. The running variety, or dewberry, 
commences ripening early in April, and continues in bearing 
till May, when the high blackberry comes on, and continues 
in bearing till July. The Lawton was fruited by Dr. Sanborn 
last year. He says : " It did well, but needs moist ground." 
The huckleberry grows everywhere, and is plentiful in market 
during the month of May. The strawberry is easily culti- 
vated and bears abundant crops. It requires a moist and 
fertile soil. The fruit commences ripening in March, and 
the vines, if freely watered, will continue in bearing for six 
months. "Wilson's Albany is, perhaps, the best variety for this 
latitude. Hovey's Seedling also does well. The mulberry 
grows wild, and bears two crops in a year. The Northern 
gooseberry and cranberry do not succeed. 

THE OLIVE. 

The olive has been successfully cultivated, and is deserving 
attention. Trees grown from the seed commence bearing 
the tenth year, and are fully productive about the twentieth 
or twenty-fifth. 



100 



THE BANANA AND PINEAPPLE. 

In all the southern portion of the peninsula the banana 
does finely. In the northern part of the State they require 
protection in winter. The pineapple also succeeds admira- 
bly in South Florida. It and the banana are raised from 
suckers, which come into bearing about eighteen months 
after being planted. The stalks die after fruiting, and give 
place to suckers which spring up around the parent stalk. 
The banana grows to the height of ten feet ; the pineapple 
to a height of about three feet. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

Of strictly tropical fruits that are worthy of attention, in 
addition to those above noticed, may be mentioned the guava, 
sappadillo, sugar-apple, tamarind, alligatox pear, pawpaw, 
plantain, cocoa-nut, and perhaps the date. All the above we 
have seen growing luxuriantly in South Florida. The cocoa- 
nut is a large tree, rising above all the other trees of the forest. 
The fruit is ripening the year round. The peacan-nut can 
be raised without difficulty, and probably the almond. 

There is a broad field for experiment in connection with 
the productions of Florida. She is still a " terra incognita," 
to a great extent. Her capacities are comparatively untested 
and unknown. They awaifc the hand of industry, enterprise, 
and skill to develop them, and to make the "land of flowers" 
not only the most salubrious, but, in the variety and value of 
its productions, the most wealthy portion of the Union. 

STOCK-RAISING. 

On much even of the poorer land in the State is to be 
found a large growth of oaks, scattered among the pines, 
which furnish abundant of mast, on which, in the genial 
climate of Florida, with little care or protection, hogs can be 
raised ad libitum. They are to be found everywhere, through- 
out the forests of the whole peninsula, half-wild and in good 



101 



condition, finding easily an independent support. Kept, or 
rather unkept, as they are, they are a nuisance ; but the 
fencing in of a sufficient range," and the occasional distri- 
bution of a little feed, would enable a farmer to raise hogs 
enough to furnish a considerable revenue. 

The whole territory is likewise covered with a more or less 
thick coat of divers wild grasses, which retain their green- 
ness to a greater or less extent throughout the year. Cattle 
maintain themselves in good condition, entirely without care. 
In the southern portion of the peninsula are found large 
moist prairies, called savannahs, covered with tall grasses, 
which afford very good nutriment for cattle. Upon them 
large herds of cattle pasture, which are driven up occasion- 
ally by their owners ; the beeves selected out, and the calves 
marked. Capt. McKay, of Tampa, has been engaged in the 
cattle trade for a number of years, running a line of steamers 
to Cuba two or three times a month, loaded with Florida 
beeves. During the war the Confederate authorities drew 
large supplies of beef from Florida. Some of the heavy 
cattle men own as many as 25,000 head, and have made for- 
tunes out of the business. 

Sheep also do well in Florida. It may be doubtful if as 
fine a quality of wool could be raised as farther to the north, 
but the mutton is of a superior quality. 

Whether any of the so-called tame grasses can ever be 
successfully cultivated in Florida, and if so, what are the 
best varieties, never seems to have been satisfactorily deter- 
mined. But, though not as yet sufficiently tested by actual 
experiment, the abundant growth of the wild grasses through- 
out the forest, and the fact that the corn fields, between the 
last hoeing and the harvest, often show a growth of grass, 
called Crabb Grass, sufficient, if cured, to make a ton or ton 
and a half to the acre, of rich and succulent fodder, suffici- 
ently indicates the adaptability of the State to the growth of 
tame grasses. 

TIMBER AND LUMBER. 

Florida is, beyond question, the best-timbered State in the 
Union. Out of about 38,000,000 acres, only some 3,000,000 



102 



is included in farms, and of the rest nineteen-twentieths, 
exclusive of the area covered by rivers and lakes, is covered 
with heavy forests. On all the least moist and more level 
portions the pine is the prevalent forest tree — either the yel- 
low or the pitch-pine. It grows with great beauty, and at- 
tains a large size, furnishing some of the handsomest pine 
lumber to be found in the markets of the world. The extent 
of the pine lands, and the possible amount of lumber that 
could be manufactured, would be almost incredible to one 
who has never visited Florida. There are probably more 
than 30,000 square miles of heavy pine forest within the 
limits of the State. 

In the moister lands, along the rivers and creeks and on 
. the margins and swamps, an almost infinite variety of trees 
are to be found, of which the more valuable for timber and 
lumber are live oak, white oak, the hickory, the ash, the 
birch, the cedar, the magnolia, the sweet bay, and the 
cypress. Of all these varieties a great abundance is to be 
found throughout the State. Of pine of the best quality, of 
cedar and cypress in particular, the supply for any purposes 
of manufacture may well be said to be inexhaustible. The 
larger proportion of what has loosely been called swamp in 
Florida, is simply low hummock, with a soil of inexhaustible 
fertility, and covered with a dense growth of mainly cypress, 
magnolia, and sweet bay. The timber of the cypress more 
nearly resembles that of the Northern basswood than any- 
thing else. It is not quite as close-grained, perhaps, but it 
is about the same weight and toughness, and is fully as easily 
worked, and can be used nearly as well for all the purposes 
to which basswood is applied. It is more easily split than 
basswood ; but it is, with that exception, as susceptible of 
being warped and bent into desirable shapes. For clothes- 
pins, for fork and rake and broom handles, and for pails and 
tubs, cypress furnishes an excellent material ; while the red 
cedar of the coast and swamps and rivers, would yield the 
best known material for the pails and tubs of a nicer and 
more costly description. 

The timber of the magnolia, also, is susceptible of a variety 



103 



of uses ; similar to basswood in color and fineness of grain, 
it can be brought to a fine polish, and is already being used 
for the nicer and finer kinds of wheelwright and cabinet work. 
Of this timber the supply is very large. 

The wood of the red or sweet bay, in fineness of texture 
and in its other valuable qualities, stands next to mahogany, 
and will, ere long, be in demand for cabinet work ; it abounds 
in the State. 

The resources of Florida in the direction of the manufac- 
ture of wooden ware, and of tools of all descriptions made 
from wood, have not only as yet never been developed, but 
have hardly been suspected. If an inexhaustible abundance 
of material, at the cheapest possible rates, and very great 
accessibility by water communication, are of any value and 
importance in promoting the success of wooden manufacture, 
then this bids fair to become a leading industrial pursuit in 
this State. 

Soon after the close of the war, the business of manufac- 
turing lumber was overdone, and was engaged in by many 
unaccustomed to the work ; consequently failure of course oc- 
curred, and many mills stand idle. Whoever shall purchase 
these mills and convert them first into manufactories of 
wooden ware will have an excellent prospect of a large and 
lucrative business. 

GAME AND FISH. 

The great abundance of oysters, fish, and game to be found in 
the greater portion of the State, forms an inducement of force 
with many, both on the ground of business and economy, as 
well as on account of the opportunity afforded to sportsmen. 
Everywhere on the coast, both of the ocean and the Gulf, ex- 
cellent oysters abound. The oysters of St. Andrew's Bay are 
celebrated throughout the South, and those of Indian Kiver 
are larger, finer, and still more abundant. And off more than 
half the Florida coast, turtle in immense quantities and of 
great size are continually taken ; but the capacity of these 
waters for oysters and turtle is almost inexhaustible. 

Fish, too, of the best quality, is to be found on all the 



104 



coasts and in all the lakes and rivers, forming a cheap, easily 
attainable and very wholesome article of diet, and giving 
opportunity for business in this direction to almost any ex- 
tent. It is no exaggeration to say that the bays and inlets, 
as well as rivers of Florida swarm with valuable fish ; mullet, 
bass, sheeps-head, trout — salt water and fresh, and innumera- 
ble other varieties abound ; and latterly it has been dis- 
covered that very valuable shad fisheries may be carried on 
in various localities. 

Turkeys, ducks, squirrels, deer, and bear are to be found 
throughout the State, and perhaps no part of the United 
States can furnish a more exciting or agreeable winter hunt- 
ing ground than Indian River and the Gulf coast. 

While the larger portions of the North and West are cov- 
ered with snow, and the frost holds absolute and iron sway, 
the hunter in the Indian River region may comfortably camp 
out, month after month, with a single blanket, taking as he 
needs, his sweet potatoes from the ground, and the orange, 
lemon, and banana from the plantatons along the route, and, 
in the continuous sunshine of an unending spring, surfeit 
himself with the pursuit of game. 

The gathering of sponge, and the taking and preservation 
of fish, game, and turtle for the Northern market, pursued 
somewhat in the past, are bound in the future to furnish 
lucrative occupation to the labor and enterprise of multi- 
tudes. 

Key West is the headquarters of the sponge business. 
Large quantities are annually gathered in the shallow waters 
along the coast. The Key West Dispatch says that over 
four thousand dollars' worth of sponge has been shipped 
from that port within the last two months. These shipments 
do not include the finer quality, known as the sheep-wool, 
but are confined to the grass and glove sponges alone. The 
recent impetus to this business gives employment to two 
hundred men and boys, thus affording those fond of " spong- 
ing '* an opportunity of engaging in it in a profitable way. 



105 



SALT. 

The manufacture of salt was carried on all along the coast 
during the war, and is to some extent at the present time. The 
late Wm. C. Dennis, Esq., of Key West, had just completed 
at the commencement of the war, extensive salt works on the 
Island of Key West, for the manufacture of salt by solar 
evaporation. Mr. Dennis had given much attention to the 
subject, and was confident of success ; but the war coming 
on, the business was abandoned. The water of the Gulf is 
said to be Salter than that of the Atlantic, and all along the 
coast are excellent locations for extensive salt works. 

NAVAL STOEES. 

The extensive pine forests of Florida already furnish em- 
ployment to a large number engaged in the production of 
naval stores. In 1866 over $100,000 worth of spirits of tur- 
pentine was manufactured ; also large quantities of rosin. 
The trees in Florida have a much longer running season than 
those of North or South Carolina. They are boxed in the 
winter. On the approach of warm weather they commence 
running, and continue until cold weather in the fall. The 
crude turpentine which collects in the boxes is removed 
every month. It is worth about 75 cts. per cwt., wherever 
there is a still. One hand will take care of 12,000 boxes, 
which will yield 50 bbls. of spirits of turpentine, and 200 
bbls. of rosin, in a good season. Rain or water transporta- 
tion should be near at hand, as freight is an important item. 
The business has been yearly increasing, and has been remu- 
nerative. 

Without a doubt, hemp in all its varieties, may be grown 
in Florida with abundant success. It grows luxuriously else- 
where under similar, or even less favorable circumstances of 
soil and climate. Some accounts of Sisal hemp, by Wm. C. 
Dennis, of Key West, Fla., taken from the Patent Office 
Report, is inserted here as possibly a matter of interest and 
likely to become a source of profit to our citizens : 

" Dr. Henry Perine, who was for a time Consul at Yucatan, 



10G 



among many other exotic plants, introduced into the southern 
part of this State the Sisal hemp (Agave Sisalana). He also 
introduced two other species of the agave, which, from 
their hardy, self-propagating natures, not only survived the 
effects of the change of climate, but increased rapidly until 
they were destroyed by the Indians, in 1846. One of them 
was the " Pulque plant," from which is manufactured, in 
Mexico, the celebrated domestic drink of that country ; and 
the other was the " Great American aloes," or " Century 
plant " (Agave Americana), the fibre of which is manufac- 
tured into cordage and various other articles of use. Of 
these three kinds of agave, so far as I know, the Sisal hemp 
is the only one which appears to be of much importance to 
us in an economical point of view, although further acquaint- 
ance and experiments may prove the other two likewise val- 
uable, especially the latter." 

" The gigantic plant out of which Sisal hemp is made, de- 
lights in acrid, rocky land, which contains a superabundance of 
lime. This is precisely the condition of the soil of these Keys, 
and the extreme southerly part of the peninsula of Florida, 
where alone it could be cultivated in the absence of frost. 
It requires less culture than other products, but is much 
benefited by keeping down the weeds ; and although it 
grows best on lands which have the deepest soil, yet it 
grows where there is but little soil that appears among the 
rocks, sending its long, penetrating roots into the clefts and 
crevices of the rocks in search of black, rich, vegetable 
mould. In fact, the lands on these Keys, and much of it on 
the southern point of the peninsula, are nearly worthless for 
every other agricultural purpose, so far as is known ; yet 
there are thousands of acres in this region where a ton of 
cleaned Sisal hemp can be made to the acre yearly after 
the plant has arrived at such an advanced stage as will allow 
the lower leaves to be cut from it, which takes, in this climate, 
from three to five years to grow, according to the goodness of 
the soil, and the attention given to keep the land clear of weeds, 
grass, etc. It is no longer an experiment here as to the growth 
of the plant, or as to the amount of the product ; nor is there 



107 



any longer a doubt as regards the value of the fibre, a number 
of tons of it having already been collected and sent to market, 
where it readily brought within a half cent to a cent per pound 
as much as the best kind of Manilla hemp; that is in the 
neighborhood of $250 per ton. About a thousand plants 
should be set on an acre, and, from many young ones coming 
up from the long lateral roots, if these be kept at proper 
distance, it will be seen that the same lands will require no 
re-planting, if coarse vegetable manure be applied from time 
to time. After the plant is of sufficient growth, the lower 
leaves are cut off, at proper times, leaving enough on the top 
to keep it healthy. These leaves are composed of a soft 
watery pulp, and are from two to six feet long, and in the 
middle from four to six inches wide, being frequently three 
inches thick at the butt, having the general shape of the 
head of a lance. They contain a gum, which is the chief 
cause of their being rather troublesome in separating the 
fibres from the pulp. Neither the epidermis nor this pulp is 
more than a powder after becoming dry, if the gum be en- 
tirely crushed and washed out. This is a most important 
fact in relation to the manner to be adopted to cleanse the 
fibres from the pulp. As these are continuous and parallel, 
and imbedded in it, I feel certain that a system of passing 
the leaves through a series of heavy iron rollers, firmly set, 
something after those used in grinding sugar cane, and 
throwing water upon the crushed leaves, in jets or otherwise, 
in sufficient quantities to wash out the gum (which is perfect- 
ly soluble in it), will thoroughly clean the fibres without any 
loss ; so that, after they are dry, and have been beaten to get 
out the dust, they will be fit for market. At any rate, the 
night plan for separating the fibres has not yet been discov- 
ered, although there has been enough done at it to show that 
they can be got out at a profit. Here the people either pre- 
serve the primitive plan, which is practised in Yucatan, of 
beating and scraping the leaves, or simply crush them in a 
pair of rollers, afterwards steeping the crushed ones in an 
alkaline solution for a few days, and then clean the fibres by 
a kind of combing process. But either scraping or combing 



108 



destroys too many of the fibres by breaking them, which 
would not be done by a system of rolling and washing out 
the gum. In Yucatan, they ferment the beaten leaves in 
water or mud ; but this stains and weakens the fibres, so as to 
reduce their value, I believe, more than half. Even steeping 
the crushed leaves in an alkaline pickle, although it may not 
weaken the fibres much, as the juice of the leaves is acid, 
destroys that silky gloss which they possess when got out of 
the fresh leaves." 



EOUTES AND EXPENSE. 

The usual, and perhaps the cheapest, and upon the whole, 
the most comfortable route to Florida, is by steamer from 
New York, direct to Fernandina or to Savannah, and thence 
to Jacksonville. Settlers coming by this route can forward 
their heavy baggage and household furniture by sailing ves- 
sel from New York, or Boston, or Philadelphia. 

Another route is by railroad, via Washington and Rich- 
mond to Charleston or Savannah, and thence by steamer to 
Jacksonville ; or by railroad the whole distance. The latter 
is most rapid, but least comfortable and most expensive. By 
steamer, the expense from New York is from $28 to $35, and 
by the all- railroad route would probably be $50. These 
routes require from three to five days. 

A cheaper route would be by sailing vessel from any of 
several of the Northern ports, from which vessels are fre- 
quently clearing for Florida, seeking freights of lumber. 
Many of the vessels are neat and roomy, and easily could, and 
if required undoubtly would, afford very comfortable accom- 
modation for passengers. The expense by this route would 
be much less than by any other, and passengers, at little 
cost, could bring with them their household goods and furni- 
ture, and the thousand articles of comfort that are as desi- 
rable as they are expensive to replace. A passage thus by 
sailing vessel would require, upon an average, some ten days, 
although within the past season vessels have made the pas- 



109 



sage by sail from New York in five days. The accessibility 
of Florida by such a variety of routes is not the least recom- 
mendation she can offer to those proposing to change their 
location. 



TIME OF STABTING. 

As far as the mere question of preparing for business, 
whether agricultural or other, or of engaging in it, is con- 
cerned, an arrival at any time within three months after 
September 1st is well enough ; but, on account of health and 
comfort, the immigrant should so time his departure as to 
arrive in October, November, or December. 

Thus he will escape the severe weather of the most uncom- 
fortable season of the year, and will have opportunity for 
partial acclimation during the season which is most favorable 
to health here. 

Again, if one is disposed to settle upon new land, time will 
thus be given to clear and prepare for a summer crop what- 
ever land is desired ; while, if the settler prefers to purchase 
an improved farm, he will then be in season to put in a winter 
crop of vegetables or grain, or to establish his vineyard or 
fruit orchard, as he chooses. 

PKICES OF LANDS. 

It is difficult to give satisfactory replies to the many 
questions in reference to the prices of lands. In fact land is 
from one dollar twenty -five cents to one hundred dollars per 
acre. 

Here, as in the other sections of the country, the value of 
land in the market depends upon its vicinity to the villages 
and cities, and upon its facilities for communication, as much 
as upon its intrinsic worth. Plantations that are partially 
cleared and having improvements, such as buildings and 
fences, are worth from three to ten dollars per acre. Along 
the St. John's, improved lands, especially those in the vicin- 



110 



ity of Jacksonville and Palatka, are much higher. Lands 
having orange groves in bearing, while estimated at from 
fifty to one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, are scarcely to 
be bought at any price. 

The value of land, of all kinds, is rapidly increasing in the 
more desirable portions of Florida, and the successful recon- 
struction under the new Constitution will add rapidly to the 
enhancement of prices. 

Generally, it may be said that the price of land need be no 
obstacle to deter the immigration of any ; an abundance of 
good land can be had at reasonable prices. 



BUILDINGS, THEIR CHARACTER AND EXPENSE. 

As is true of all other newly settled regions, the customs 
and fashions prevalent at large, do not require as expensive a 
style of dwelling-houses or places of business, as in older- 
settled sections, and in consequence of this, as well as on 
account of the mildness of the climate, the strong, tight, and 
expensive houses of the North would be not only not needed, 
but would in fact be out of character. 

A man who would feel constrained, in order to sustain a 
character for respectability as a reputable farmer at the 
North, and, indeed, in order to make his family comfortable 
during the rigorous winters there, to expend from $1,500 to 
$2,500 for a farm dwelling-house, would not require, and in- 
deed would not think of expending more than $500 to $1,200 
for a dwelling-house in Florida. 

A very large proportion of the dwelling-houses in Florida, 
not only on the farms and plantations, but in the towns and 
villages, are built by covering a frame with a weather-board- 
ing of common boards, nailed on vertically and then battened, 
while the inner partitions are made in the same way, or 
lathed and plastered, as the occupant chooses. And these 
simple houses, neatly whitewashed, with their invariably 
roomy piazzas, so entirely indispensable in this climate, and 



Ill 



looking out through the dark shade of the oak, the magnolia, 
the oliander or the china tree, are not only pleasant to the 
eye, but thoroughly comfortable and sufficient for ample pro- 
tection against the severest weather ever known here. 

One peculiarity of the dwelling-houses in Florida, that at- 
tracts the attention of all strangers, is that they are destitute 




View on Bay Street, Jacksonville. 



entirely of cellars. The houses are built upon wooden posts 
or brick pillars, standing elevated some two to four feet above 
the surface of the earth, and thus giving ample opportunity 
for that thorough ventilation which is essential to health 
and comfort. Occasionally a small cellar can be found, but 
they are very rare. Thus the settler is relieved from a heavy 
item in the necessary expense of building a house at the 
North. 



112 



COST OF CLEARING LAND. 

The cost of clearing land varies as much as the price of 
land. What are called " Low Hummock " lands are exceed- 
ing rich ; and while they give, when cleared, a soil of great 
depth and of inexhaustible fertility, they are covered with 
the densest conceivable growth of trees, shrubs, and plants. 
The trees are large and stand thickly together, and, with the 
undergrowth, form an almost impenetrable mass of vegetable 
growth. To clear thoroughly such land requires much la- 
bor, of course. Probably the strong, thick, " low hummock " 
will cost in clearing from twenty to forty dollars per acre. 

The pine lands are more easily cleared. The trees often 
stand at some distance from each other, and a common prep- 
aration of these lands for cultivation is made by girdling the 
trees and cutting out the undergrowth. The year after gird- 
ling, the tops of the trees are dead and offer no impediment to 
the rays of the sun, and a crop may be planted, the trunks re- 
maining to be removed at leisure. These lands can be cleared 
at slight expense, costing from four to ten dollars per acre. 

Excepting the treeless Western prairies there are no lands 
of average fertility in the whole country that can more easily, 
cheaply, and rapidly be prepared for crops, than the pine lands 
of Florida. A new comer, arriving in September or October, 
can with little expenditure, within twelve months, transform a 
piece of wood tract into a field waving with a various and 
valuable harvest. 



WAGES OF LABOR. 

There is a scarcity of field labor in some parts of the State, 
particularly the more remote, on account of the strong dis- 
position of the freedmen, who constitute so large an element 
of the field laborers, to gather together and in the immediate 
vicinity of the larger towns. Still, proprietors that deal kindly 
and honorably with their help are seldom at a loss for such 
help as they need. 



113 



The ordinary method in the employment of field hands is 
to hire by the month, giving a certain agreed price per month 3 
and adding the usual rations ; and the rate of wages per month 
has been, during the current year, from ten to eighteen dol- 
lars, with rations, which are estimated to be worth six dollars 
per month additional. Field and other manual labor, by the 
day, has been worth from seventy-five cents to one dollar and 
fifty cents. 

Skilled labor of mechanics of all kinds is in demand at a 
fair compensation, say from two dollars to three dollars and 
fifty cents per day. Job work, by all kinds of mechanics, is 
charged at a much higher rate comparatively. 

The State is much better provided with all kinds of profes- 
sional skill than of mechanical. The professions of law and of 
medicine are largely represented ; but good blacksmiths, car- 
penters, masons, and shoemakers would find abundant em- 
ployment. 

A good man, with either a profession or a trade, can easily 
and profitably carry on a small farm or garden, thus saving 
all lost time, and contributing to the necessary expenses of 
his family. 



EXPENSE OF LIVING. 

An erroneous notion seems widely prevalent, that the neces- 
sary household expenses of a family living in Florida are 
enormous ; and, no doubt, one who comes here for a short 
time and takes up his abode at a hotel or boarding-house, 
will have reason to believe there is good foundation for the 
notion referred to. 

Eents are undoubtedly high in the larger towns ; but this is 
partly owing to the fact that the unsettled condition of affairs, 
social and political, has hitherto prevented the investment of 
capital in building, and the supply of tenements is short, and 
consequently rents are correspondingly high. 

There are also one or two more of the leading items in the 
expense of house-keeping that are unreasonably high, such as 

8 



flour, sugar, and pork ; but, with these exceptions, the neces- 
sary expenses of living are no higher than at the North, as 
fish and fresh meats are correspondingly cheap. 

At our request, Mr. Robert B. Cram, a leading grocer and 
provision dealer, on Bay street, in the city of Jacksonville, 
has very kindly furnished us with a list of the more ordinary 
articles required in keeping house, with their average prices 
during the past year. Mr. Cram is a large dealer, and a man 
whose character gives authority to any statement he may 
make : 



Flour, per bbl $11 00 to $17 00 

Pork 44 22 00 " 30 00 

Bacon, ribbed, per lb.. 15 '* 17 

' " cl'r rib'd, ;< . . 18 " 20 

Sugar, Cof. "C," 44 . . 17 

" Brown, " . . 15 

Crashed, 44 . . 20 

Pulv'd, " .. 20 

Coffee, Bio, 44 . . 25 to 30 

" Java, " . . 42 " 50 

4 ' roast and ground, 

per lb 18" 25 

Pepper, whole, per lb . . 50 

" ground, " . . 60 

Pickles, 1 gal. jars 1 25 

k 75 

Hams, covered, per lb . . 20 to 22 

" naked, " .. 15 " 20 

Shoulders, sm ok., per lb. 14 " 18 

Sides, dry salted, " 15 " 18 

Cheese, factory, " 20 " 25 

Milk, condens., per can. 35 40 

Yeast cakes, per pkge. 25 

Apples, dried, per lb. . . 15 20 

Lard, " 20 25 

Eggs, per dozen 30 50 

Corn, per bushel 1 50 1 70 



Yeast Powders, per box 

Hominy, per lb 

Meal, per bushel 

Tea, Japanese, per lb . 
" Old Hyson, 44 .. 
44 Young " " .-, 
44 Com. Black, 44 . , 
44 Gunpowd., 44 . , 

Soap, Babbitt's, " 
" Yellow, " ., 

Peaches, 2 J lb. cans. . 

10 44 ... 

Soda, Baking, per lb. . . 
" Washing, " .. 

Codfish, 44 

Butter, 44 

Vinegar, per gallon 

Syrup, per gallon . . 

Molasses, " 

Hecker's self-raising ( 
flour / in 6 lb. pkges. ) 

Rice, per lb 

Peaches, dried, per lb., 

Brooms, each 

Pepper Sauces 

Ketchup 



$0 20 to $0 20 



5 44 
60 44 
50 
75 
40 
00 

2 00 
20 
15 
50 

3 00 
20 
10 
10 

50 to 
60 44 
75 44 
60 44 

50 44 

12 44 
30 44 
25 44 
25 
25 44 



5 

2 06 



70 
1 00 
1 50 
1 00 

60 

15 

40 
50 

40 



In a country where the owner of a few acres of land, 
worth not exceeding $5 per acre, having 100 bushels of corn, 
may raise and fat, with little care and almost no other ex- 
pense, a herd of swine as large as he chooses ; and where salt 
from the salt springs or from sea-water can be more easily 
manufactured than elsewhere in the whole world, the price 
of pork is exorbitant. And the same is equally true of sugar. 
Nowhere on earth can sugar be raised more easily or more 
abundantly. The cane does well everywhere in the State, 
and on Indian River, and in South Florida, and on the Gulf 



115 



coast, cane grows from five to ten consecutive years without 
replanting. Yet much of the sugar for home consumption in 
the State is imported from the North, thus out-doing in ab- 
surdity the " carrying of coals to Newcastle." 

But, with one or two such exceptions, it is apparent, from 
the inspection of the list, that the ordinary expenses of 
living are not larger than the average in even the older of the 
States. 

And even the apparent expenses of sustaining a family 
are largely diminished in the case of those who live out 
of the villages upon farms, by the facility with which a cow 
or two, and a few pigs, and a large stock of poultry may be 
kept. 

For a man of family, with small means, there is no cheaper 
country than Florida. 



NATUEAL RESOURCES FOR FERTILIZERS. 

As has already been remarked, the soil of most of the 
State is light and sandy upon the surface, although much of 
it is underlaid by clay or marl, and at no great depth. Hence, 
to the intelligent immigrant the natural convenient resources 
of the State for manures will be of interest. 

The first and most widely distributed means for restoring 
and invigorating the fertility of the soil, whenever exhausted, 
is furnished by the swamps and lagoons and cypress sinks 
that may be found in all sections. In many of the swamps 
and lagoons are to be found large and accessible deposits of 
what is called muck, which at the will and leisure of the farm- 
er may be drawn out and applied directly to the land, or 
may be composted with lime, ashes, salt, or manures ; and, 
thus improved, becomes available to almost any desirable 
extent. In many of the sinks or depressions where the 
cypress is found, are similar deposits of vegetable mould or 
muck, and these sinks are scattered, of various sizes, 
throughout the State. 



116 



Along the rivers, and the banks of many of the lakes, also, 
are to be found very large and numerous deposits of muck or 
mud. Experience in Florida has proved that the muck used 
as a fertilizer, under proper management becomes an ex- 
ceedingly valuable article, and it is to be found in immense 
quantities in every section. 

There is reason also to believe that the clay itself which 
lies underneath and close to the surface of a very large pro- 
portion of the sandy regions of the State, is of itself one of 
the best fertilizers when applied to and mixed directly with 
the sandy surface soil. No sufficient and reliable experi- 
ments in this direction have been announced ; but it is 
reasonable that such an admixture of soils of different 
characters will be. as beneficial here as at the North, where 
it has been eminently successful. 

The immense deposits of oyster shells that are character- 
istic of the whole coast line, located in the immediate vicini- 
ty of dense forests giving ample stores of fuel, form another 
of the sources of agricultural strength of incalculable value 
that will be more and more appeciated. 

Inland, upon the banks of the rivers and lakes, and some- 
times quite inland, are to be seen frequent accumulations of 
shells — periwinkle and conch — in great bulk, and also of 
great value, being already, through the operation of the ele- 
ments, perfectly adapted to immediate and profitable use. 
These " shell mounds " are often of great bulk, forming very 
respectable hills, whose origin has excited much inquiry and 
speculation. Some of the shell mounds on the banks of the 
Upper St. John's are 20 and 30 feet in depth, and near the 
mouth are oyster-shell mounds that are higher still, and cover 
acres of land. 

Marl, likewise, of varied character and value, is easily ac- 
cessible in different parts of the State. There are several 
large deposits within 25 miles of Jacksonville, and a recent 
discovery has revealed the existence of a very large deposit 
of green marl in the county of Leon. Without doubt an 
abundance of this valuable material will be discovered when- 
ever a sufficient investigation in this direction shall be 
made. 



117 



Thus, it is evident that, with abundant and accessible 
supplies of clay, lime, marl, and muck, under any reasona- 
bly skilful agricultural management, an improvement rather 
than a deterioration of the capacity of the soil may be ex- 
pected. 



WINTER GARDENS IN FLORIDA. 

The following extracts from the "Farmers' Almanac," 
published by C. Drew, bookseller and stationer, at Jackson- 
ville, Florida, giving directions for the garden work for each 
month in the year, are inserted as vividly contrasting the 
climate of Florida with that of the Northern States. 

GABDEN WORK FOR JANUARY. 

Manure and prepare the soil for the more hardy crops. 
Early York cabbage maybe sown, onions and shellots planted, 
parsley, carrots, lettuce, turnips and spinach sown ; but it is 
better to delay the main crops until next month. Plant the 
early crop of English pease, and prepare the ground for Irish 
potatoes next month. Prune your vines, fruit trees, hedges, 
etc. 

GARDEN WORK FOR FEBRUARY. 

Plant strawberries, horseradish, English pease and Irish 
potatoes, and yams for slips. Sow asparagus, cabbage, cauli- 
flower, celery, carrots, turnips, parsnips, radishes, mustard, 
spinach, beets, parsley, and cress. Dress asparagus beds ; 
sow artichoke and vegetable oyster late this month ; sow 
tomato, egg-plant, and pepper under glass, in gentle heat ; 
plant early corn ; finish pruning, transplanting vines and 
fruit trees. 

GABDEN WORK FOR MARCH. 

Continue to plant strawberries, English pease, onions, celery, 
sweet potatoes, horseradish, tomatoes, cabbage, and corn. 
Plant ground pease, pumpkins, okra, and a few snap-beans. 
Sow parsnips, radishes, lettuce, carrots, parsley, egg-plant 



113 



and vegetable oysters, for a succession of crops. Keep jour 
garden well worked. Asparagus may be sown, and old beds 
re-dressed. Sow artichokes if not sown last month. This 
will be a busy month, as spring has fairly opened. Protect 
the blossoms of fruit trees from frost with smoke. 

GARDEN WORK FOR APRIL. 

The garden should be now fairly on the way. Many things 
planted last month may now be replanted, if necessary, to 
secure good crops, such as cabbage, celery, sweet potatoes, 
okra, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, etc. Snap and Lima beans 
should be planted. Broccoli may be sown, and cauliflower 
for a late crop. Plant water and musk melons, squashes and 
cucumbers in a rich sandy soil, deeply. Look after your 
asparagus beds. Transplant strawberries, pepper, egg-plants* 
cabbages, etc. Protect fruit trees from frost with smoke. 

GARDEN WORK FOR MAY. 

Late cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli may be sown this 
month, but the young plants should be protected from the 
the hot sun at midday. Late this month, transplant celery, 
winter cabbage, tomato, sweet potato slips, etc. ; but they 
should be well watered, and protected from the hot sun. 
Continue to plant corn and snap-beans, pumpkins, winter 
squashes, table pease, corn-field beans. Save all seeds as they 
ripen. Water when necessary, but always apply it at night. 
Thin out the young crops to a stand. 

GARDEN WORK FOR JUNE. 

Irish potatoes may be gathered this month. Dig early in 
the morning or late in the evening, or in cloudy weather, so 
as to avoid the hot sun. Thin the later planted crops of 
carrots, beets, etc. Cut off the upper shoots of tomato plants 
where the fruit is half grown, as it hastens maturity. Con- 
tinue to transplant celery; winter cabbages and seeds, if 
shaded by day until up, may still be planted. Continue to 
plant corn, snap-beans, corn-field beans, and table pease, and 
save all garden seeds as they ripen. Prepare ground for 
turnips by frequent ploughing or digging. 



119 



GARDEN WORK FOR JULY. 

Continue to gather and store onions, shallots, and Irish 
potatoes, digging in the cool of the day. Pick cucumbers 
for pickling, and put them up in salt. Make preparations for 
a fall garden. Clear off ground left vacant by old crops, and 
replant with cabbage, celery and tomato plants, snap-beans, 
corn, pease, etc. Pat in another crop also of beets, ruta-baga 
and other turnips. English pease planted late, often do well 
in autumn. Get your ground ready for winter cabbage. 

GARDEN WORK FOR AUGUST. 

Cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage may be set out for win- 
ter use. Continue to transplant celery, and also ruta-baga 
and other turnips, beets, radishes, etc., for winter use. Spin- 
ach, lettuce, etc., may be sown, and snap-beans and English 
pease planted ; also melons and cucumbers for pickling. Set 
out late tomato plants, and earth up your celery. Gather 
your seeds as they ripen, Keep your strawberry beds clean, 
open, and mellow. Much work done in the spring may now 
be repeated. Spade seed beds, if needed, and free from 
runners. 

GARDEN WORK FOR SEPTEMBER. 

The Elat Dutch and the red tops are the best ; also mus- 
tard and cabbage for winter use. Of the latter Early York 
and other early sorts may be sown to set out the first of 
February ; if the plants become of sufficient size, they may 
be transplanted as late as the first of November ; and, with 
a little protection in severe weather, they will make fine heads 
early in spring. Spinach, colza lettuce, and radishes may 
be sown. Strawberry beds may also be prepared, and the 
plants set out. 

GARDEN WORK FOR OCTOBER. 

Bed top turnips may be sown for winter use, but it is al- 
most too late to bring the roots to much perfection, except 
on the coast. Those already planted may be cultivated and 
brought to a stand. Much can be done during good weather 



120 



in getting everything ready for the next year. Let your ma- 
nure heaps be looked after, and your garden tools made ready 
for spring work, and see that they are carefully housed. 
Plant strawberry beds. Onions can be set out. 

GARDEN WORK FOR NOVEMBER. 

English broad beans and early English pease may be 
planted this month. Thyme, horseradish, etc., may be taken 
up and divided ; strawberry beds planted, and the ground 
manured and prepared for spring work. Beets, turnips, etc., 
will generally stand our winters without injury ; but it is 
best, for security, to put up a portion- of them in banks, like 
potatoes, ready for use, in case the winter should be unusually 
severe. Gather and bank sweet potatoes. Begin to plant 
and prune fruit trees. The earlier the vine is pruned after 
killing frosts the better. 

GARDEN WORK FOR DECEMBER. 

This is apt to be a bad month for gardening, and but little 
can be done except to get ready for the new year. Now is a 
good time for pruning your fruit trees, a most important 
operation, and one which requires care, knowledge, and judg- 
ment. Either prune your trees and plants yourself, or 
stand by and see that it is done properly. " The time to 
prune," says an experienced cultivator, " is when your knife 
is sharp ;" but the best time is when the leaves are off. 
Gather a large stock of leaves, wood, earth, etc., and other 
material for manure. 



INDUCEMENTS TO IMMIGRATION. 

The various and prominent inducements which Florida is 
now offering to different classes of immigrants may be 
summed up briefly as follows : 

HEALTH. 

Generally, experience, reason, and statistics all show that 
continued health may be anticipated, with as good grounds 



121 



of confidence, in Florida as in any other State in the Union ; 
and to those suffering from pulmonary, catarrhal, rheumatic, 
or cutaneous diseases, the climate and mineral waters of 
Florida furnish a desirable specific. 

It can be proved, on any street in any of the large towns, 
that men who were weak and feeble and ailing at the North, 
have for years enjoyed entire exemption from serious illness 
here. For weak lungs and exhausted vigor, no portion of the 
world can give better hope of restoration than is given here. 

CHEAP LAND. 

By men of small means, consideration will be given to the 
fact that land in all parts of the State can be procured at 
very low prices. 

EASE OF TILLAGE. 

Except in case of new hummock, the ease and rapidity 
with which the, great bulk of the lands can be cultivated 
forms another and very important inducement to settlers. 
Lands in Florida are, as a rule, worked with less of force 
than anywhere at the North. They are, whether loamy, 
clayey, or sandy, much more friable, and far more easily 
tilled. Almost all the ploughing in the State is accomplished 
by the use of single teams, which practice, although not 
always to be commended, still indicates the facility with 
which the soil can be worked. A farmer, with a single horse 
or mule, can accomplish the ploughing of as large a surface, 
or the subsequent tending by means of the plough or horse 
hoe in Florida, in three days, as can be accomplished by the 
use of the same team in Yermont, New Hampshire, or Massa- 
chusetts, in five days. 

WIDE SCOPE OF CE0PS. 

Another inducement of weight is found in the wide pos- 
sible selection of crops, to which the settler, at his own elec- 
tion, may turn his attention. With almost equal hope of 
success, he may raise rye, corn, oats, rice, beans, pease, or cot- 
ton, tobacco, sugar, indigo, or Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, 



122 



yams, turnips, beets, carrots, cabbages, ruta-bagas, melons, 
squashes, cucumbers ; or go largely into fruits, such as 
oranges, limes, lemons, peaches, figs, grapes, and plums ; and 
if he elects to settle in the southern part of the State, he may 
include cocoa-nut, pineapple, banana, plantain, guava, etc., 
etc. 

Certainly it would be difficult, anywhere within the bounds 
of the United States, or, indeed, anywhere but in Central 
America, to find a field of agricultural labor offering so wide 
a scope, and so immense a variety of crops, to which a settler 
may confidently look for successful labor and lucrative 
returns. 

The climate and duration of the working seasons, too, act 
as powerful inducements to any who have been accustomed 
to the long and severe winters, the short and hurried working 
season, and the immense labor involved in procuring an 
adequate supply of fuel and forage, universally characteristic 
of the life of the farmer at the North. The so-called winter 
in Florida is the precise time selected for the leisurely per- 
formance of all extra work. There the farmer prepares 
his land for and sows his crops, while in New England, 
with frosted fingers, the potato and turnip harvest is being 
gathered. There he harvests his main crops, while the 
Northern farmer is putting in his seed ; then resting during 
June, July, and August in the shade, he has nine months, 
and in a pinch may have twelve, in which to carry out his 
plans in a cool and unhurried manner, while a few days are 
sufficient to prepare all the fuel required in a climate so mild 
and serene as almost to have no severity. Successful farm- 
ing North must be a continual fretting hurry ; in Florida the 
farmer has time enough and to spare. 

Another strong inducement is given in the ease with which 
stock of all kinds — horses, cattle, swine, and poultry — can be 
raised ; and the extent to which this business in some parts 
may be carried on by men of small means. With unbounded 
range over the immense tracts of public and private land, 
scattered everywhere in the State, there is hardly a neces- 
sary limit to the amount of cattle, horses, and hogs that, in a 



123 



very short space of time a man who likes that business 
might easily possess. Here is, probably, the best cattle and 
hog country in the world, and poultry of all kinds, with little 
cost or care, may contribute to the sustenance and income of 
every family. 

LIGHT WORK. 

To the man who has worn himself out in breaking up new 
land, in building stone wall, in digging stumps and putting 
them into fence, Florida offers an agreeable change in the 
invitation she extends to all to come and engage in the light 
but lucrative work of raising vegetables and fruit. This is 
probably the least wearying, the most agreeable, and the 
most lucrative kind of agriculture that was ever per- 
formed. 

Without involving much severe labor, susceptible of infinite 
expansion and improvement, and offering large pecuniary re- 
ward, it constitutes an inducement which, through the lei- 
sure it offers, and the gains its promises, appeals as well to 
the higher as the less noble impulses of humanity. 



TROPICAL FLORIDA. 

The following letter was written some time ago, by Hon. 
W. H. Gleason, Lieuten ant-Go vernot elect, and published by 
order of Governor Walker : 

"His Excellency D. S. Walker, 

" Governor. 

" Sir, — Agreeable to your request, I will undertake to give 
you a description of the southern portion of Florida, through 
which I have been travelling for the past few months : its 
products, its capabilities, and its resources. My examina- 
tions have been confined principally to that portion of the 
State south of the railroad leading from Jacksonville to Cedar 
Keys, and more particularly south of the 28° of latitude, 
which I shall denominate as Tropical Florida. 



124 



" This portion of the State comprises an area of 20,000 
square miles, and a population, previous to the war, of about 
6,000 inhabitants. The population has not materially 
diminished, as there is quite an immigration tending in that 
direction, and is sufficient already to compensate for its 
losses occasioned by the war. About one-half of this popu- 
lation reside upon the Island of Key West and the neighbor- 
ing keys and islands, and are engaged in the business of 
wrecking and fishing, while a large proportion of the remain- 
ing one-half are engaged in the raising of cattle ; farming 
and the growing of crops has hitherto been neglected, and 
has been confined principally to small patches or gardens 
around the houses of the herdsmen. 

" The raising of cattle upon the main-land is the all-absorb- 
ing business of the inhabitants, who reside from 30 to 40 
miles apart, and allow the cattle to graze upon the public 
domain. As the food disappears in one place, they change 
to another ; so that the people have become migratory in 
their habits. 

" The raising of cattle upon the plains and prairies of this 
portion of the State is a profitable business. It is not un- 
common to find men, who a few years ago had no means, 
that are now the owners of from two to ten thousand head of 
cattle, and this, after furnishing large numbers to the armies 
of Lee and J ohnston. The country is divided into hummocks, 
pine openings, and prairies ; the hummocks are very rich, and 
are covered over with a dense growth of timber, consisting of 
live and water oaks, magnolia, bay, and a variety of other 
hard-wood timber. The soil is sandy, and mixed with marl 
and limestone. The pine openings are covered with scatter- 
ing pines, and a grass which affords fine pasturage. The soil 
is sandy, and not as desirable as the hummock lands or prai- 
ries. The prairie lands occupy the interior portion of the 
State, bordering upon the Kissimee river, the head waters of 
the St. John's, and the Upper Coloosahatchee. The soil is a 
rich sandy alluvium, and they are covered over with a heavy 
growth of grass, and from their appearance must be very 
productive ; they are dotted over with small clumps of hum- 



125 



mocks, containing from one to five acres each, which give 
beauty and variety to the scenery, and afford shelter, during 
the heat of the day, to innumerable herds of deer and cattle. 
There are also numerous small lakes of pure water, filled with 
fish, some of which are only a few rods in extent, while others 
are from two to ten miles in length. These prairies are the 
paradise of the herdsmen and the hunters. 

" The cattle require no feeding during the winter, and one 
can hardly travel over the prairies a whole day withoat seeing 
from 50 to 100 deer. The savannas which border upon the Ever- 
glades and Biscayene Bay are inundated during the rainy sea- 
son, from an overflow from the Everglades, and as the water 
subsides, there is left a debris from one-fourth to one-half inch 
in depth ; this process has been going on for centuries, and 
has provided one of the richest soils in the world. The rich 
lands which skirt the savannas upon the coast side are cov- 
ered with rotten limestone, and have mixed with the vegeta- 
ble matter to that extent, that the soil will effervesce as soon 
as it comes in contact with acids. These savannas are valu- 
able for sugar plantations, as the sugar cane requires a large 
percentage of lime, and the climate is so mild that the cane 
will not require planting oftener than once in ten or twelve 
years. The Palma Christi, or castor bean, is here perennial 
and grows to be quite a tree. I saw quite a number as large 
as peach trees, twenty feet high. Sea-Island cotton seems 
to be a perennial in this section of the State, and is of a fine 
quality The pure water, the chalybeate and other mineral 
springs, the magnificent beauty of its scenery, the salubrity 
and equability of its climate, must make Biscayene Bay, at 
no distant day, the resort of the invalid, the tourist, and the 
lover of adventure. The bay is filled with green turtle and 
a variety of fish, and indeed the entire coast of Tropical 
Florida is one immense fishery. At Charlotte Harbor we 
found quite a number engaged in fishing with seines ; the 
value of the fish caught averages, per hand, for the season 
(three months) $600. I doubt if any fishery pays better. 
The fisheries of Charlotte Harbor could profitably give em- 
ployment to 1,000 persons ; and the fisheries at Sarasota and 



126 



Indian River are equally as good. Every river, creek, and lake 
seems to be alive with fish, and oysters are found in great 
abundance at different places all along the coast. 

" All that portion of the State which I have denominated 
Tropical Florida, is capable of producing oranges, lemons, 
limes, arrow-root, cassava, indigo, Sisal hemp, sugar cane, 
Sea-Island cotton, rice, figs, melons of all kinds, as well as the 
vegetables grown in the more northern States. The country 
around Charlotte Harbor, and Biscayene Bay, is susceptible 
also of producing cocoa-nuts, cocoa, pineapples, guavas, cof- 
fee, bananas, plantains, alligator pears, and all the fruits and 
plants of the West Indies. 

"Like all other tropical countries, Tropical Florida has its 
wet and dry season. The wet or rainy season is during 
midsummer, which has a tendency to cool the atmosphere, 
and render the summer months cooler than it is in the more 
northern portions of the State, or in other portions of the 
South; during the rainy season nearly the whole country is 
flooded, the country being so flat and level that the water 
does not flow off readily. A great portion of the country re- 
quires ditching and draining, and when some systematic 
method shall be adopted to let off the surplus water during 
the rainy season, this portion of the State will prove the 
most productive part of the South. It has but few swamps or 
marshes, unless you consider the Everglades a marsh. They 
can hardly be considered as such, but more properly a lake. 
The water is from six inches to six feet in depth, is perfectly 
clear, and is grown up with grass, pond lilies, and other 
aqueous plants. The Alpativkee swamp upon the head wa- 
ters of the St. Lucie river, is the only swamp of any magni- 
tude in Tropical Florida ; and this part of the State has less 
swamps than Northern Wisconsin or Michigan. The coun- 
try north of the 28th cleg., east of the St. J ohn's river, and 
south of the railroad, is more thickly settled than the part 
just described. There are quite a number of plantations 
under cultivation, and more attention is paid to agriculture. 
The lands are more rolling than the country farther south, 
and produces a fine quality of Sea-Island cotton, which is the 



127 



principal crop raised. It produces good sugar, and an excel- 
lent quality of tobacco. Alchua, Marion, and Hernando are 
all fine counties of land for farming purposes, and have many 
beautiful lakes. The country east and south of the St. 
John's river has more swamps than any other part of the 
State through which we have travelled. They are principal- 
ly covered with cypress timber, and, being easy of access from 
the St. John's and Indian rivers, are valuable. There are 
fine lands upon Halifax river Musquito Lagoon, which at a 
former period were under cultivation, but were abandoned 
during the Indian war by their owners. I think that there is 
no part of the South that offers as great inducements to the 
emigrant as Florida. The salubrity and healthfulness of its 
climate, the equability of its temperature, its accessibility, 
the cheapness of its lands, the ease with which its products 
can be marketed, are inducements which are not to be over- 
looked by the emigrant ; and the fact that Tropical Florida 
is the only portion of the United States susceptible and 
capable of producing the fruits and plants of the West In- 
dies, needs only to be made known for an emigration to set- 
tle in that direction, to a sufficient extent to supply the 
northern cities, and the entire North, with oranges, lemons, 
and all other tropical fruits. 

" We have travelled upwards of fifteen hundred miles in the 
newest and most unsettled portion of the State ; we have 
mixed freely with the people of all classes, and being North- 
ern men and wishing to learn the sentiments of the people, 
as well as to examine the country, discussed the leading 
questions of the day, the war and its results, negro suffrage, 
and, in fact, everything connected with the war and Seces- 
sion. We were everywhere hospitably received, and although 
many did not agree with us in all our views, all agreed that 
hereafter the grievances of the South, or of any portion of the 
country, must be settled in accordance with law and the Con- 
stitution, upon the floor of Congress, and not by a resort to 
arms. An emigration from the North will be welcomed by a 
large majority of the people, and almost every one is anxious 
to see the State settled up and fully developed. A Northern 



128 



man of the most radical views is perfectly safe in travelling 
through any portion of Southern Florida, and to give full 
vent to his ideas and sentiments. The people have no real 
love for the North as a section ; but they will treat North- 
ern men with respect and courtesy, and will encourage them 
to settle. 

" All seem to be heartily sick of the war, and we heard no 
expression of hostility to the General Government. On the con- 
trary, the feeling seems to be, upon the part of many who 
were formerly Secessionists, to carry out and enforce the 
laws, and will give their aid and sanction in so doing. 
Like all new countries in the South and "West, the laws have 
been loosely carried into effect, and the people have hereto- 
fore been in the habit of settling their grievances without an 
appeal to the law ; but things, as near as we could learn, 
have changed for the better in that respect since the war. 

" Eespectfully yours, 

" Wm. H. Gleason." 




- - Mm"- 




o 



.0 



:■ 



0" 



> 3 F ^ • 







V 



\> A o, 'i, 




